Niddodi ultra mega power project will go ahead as planned - Govt

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jul 25: It is official. The 4000 MW ultra mega power project at Niddodi in Mangalore taluk will be built as per plans, and set up very close to the sea. This was told by chief minister Siddaramaiah in the Upper House of the state Assembly on Wednesay July 24.

The project will be taken up by union energy ministry and will be coal-based.

This means that despite various protests, not one but two mega power projects will fill the landscape of the coastal region.

In reply to a question raised by BJP member Monappa Bhandary during the zero hour, S R Patil, on behalf of Siddaramaiah, who holds the energy portfolio, gave the answer in written form stating that the power plant at Niddodi will go ahead.

The project is in the first phase and a team of officials from the centre have conducted a survey at Niddodi. As per the report furnished by the team, talks are being held with KIADB with regard to the acquisition of land for the project.

Factors like suitability of land and environment will be taken into consideration and further steps will be taken only after seeking permission of the central environment and forest department.

A team of officials from the centre had visited Niddodi on May 16 this year to conduct a survey. Representatives of Power Company of Karnataka Ltd (PCKL), KIADB, state Pollution Control Board, water supply department and others have also inspected the land. The central team submitted its report on June 19.

The central government has sanctioned 12 ultra mega power projects to be set up in various states. Niddodi project is one among these.

Sources said that as per the report submitted by the central team, the project should come up on land that is not agricultural or one used for horticulture. The government should identify land that is barren, or government land and so on for the project. About 600 to 700 acre of land will be needed.

Another 250 acre of land should be earmarked for ash pit which should be situated about 10 km away from the power plant. Also, 100 acres of land should be identified for setting up a township at a similar distance from the power plant.