Yashodhar Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)
Mangalore, Jul 19: Chaos prevailed during the meeting convened at gram panchayat hall here on Friday July 18 over the 7 mw hydroelectric power plant to be set up at Puttige village, with displeased members protesting against the project.
The locals who attended the meet claimed that information provided by Shridhar Shetty, administrative director of Siddhi Shree Powers Company was 'false' and opposed the move to set up the plant. According to the residents, the company does not have permission from KRDL forest sub-divisional officer, Mangalore, to carry out the work.
Gram panchayat president Umanath Karkera refusing to heed to the demand of the company said the panchayat would not issue no objection certificate (NOC) to set up the plant. "Conceding to the opposition raised by the members of the gram panchayat, the local body refrains from issuing the NOC," he said.
The angry protesters also walked out of the meeting refusing to hold talks with the representative sent by the company.
According to the residents, the director of the company misinformed the people during the meeting,stating that the company has received approval to begin the work. The locals contended that the agreement procedures between the company and the state government was still under way. "The company and the state government should come to a certain agreement on the project within the stipulated period of 45 days, and a final decision on the matter is yet to be taken," they said.
“We oppose the project as the company does not have documents to ascertain the claims made by the director," said Felix Cardoza. Gram panchayat members Nagavarma and Vasudeva echoed Felix's views during the meeting.
Clarification
The director of the company Shridhar Shetty in a clarification to the media said that though the company has already submitted all the relevant documents to the state government, the government procedures have caused a delay in granting the permission. He said the project requires as many as 4,500 meters of land. The water level will not be raised above 5 meters hence it will not pose any threat to the residents, he said.
The director said that land with a width of only 10 ft is needed for laying electric lines on the ground. Maximum compensation would be given to the land owners affected by the project, he assured.