Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD)

Udupi, Nov 2: After taking into consideration the written petitions submitted to the court by the administration of various churches, temples, which would be affected by the proposed setting up of coal-based thermal power plant by Nagarjuna, in the surrounding areas of Padubidri, the Court, has given last chance to submit the objections to various departments including, Nagarjuna, stated Balakrishna Shetty, president of Nandikoor Jana Jagruthi Samiti. 

The administration of St Xavier’s Church Mudarangady, CSI Church Sandoor and 9 temples including Vishwanath temple of Yellur, Durgaparameshwari temple of Nandikoor, sought the High Court (HC) to stay the setting up of power plant project by Nagarjuna –Lanco. 

Accordingly the divisional bench of HC led by chief justice Cyriac Joseph and judge Ashok B Hinjageri, who reviewed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case and allowed last chance to union environment and forest department, state government, state pollution control board, Karnataka Industrial and Development Board (KAIDB), Deputy Forest Officer (DFO) Kundapur Range besides Nagarjuna and Lanco, in order to submit their objections.

The hearing on this issue is scheduled to be held on Tuesday November 13, stated Balakrishna Shetty, in their press release.

Divisional bench has been investigating the written petitions submitted by the administrations of churches and temples during 2005, along with PIL case submitted by Nandikoor Jana Jagruthi Samiti, stated Shetty.

The court has expressed displeasure over not submitting any objections by government departments including Nagarjuna and Lanco, though the petition has been filed in the court 9 months ago, to grant interim stay order, stated Shetty.

Moreover the court has decided to transfer the case to another divisional bench already, since judge Atoka Hinjageri has contested on behalf of Nagarjuna, in the past, stated Shetty.