Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 6: Although the local women protested, the work of laying pipeline necessary for the drawing of sea water and discharging used water into it, for the  Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (erstwhile Nagarjuna) thermal power plant was resumed at Tenka Yermal Village on Sunday April 5. Policemen of Udupi District Armed Reserve Police provided security for the execution of the work by the contractor.

The contractor, a local man, said that the work will have to be executed before the onset of the rainy season and hence the work can not be delayed. "It can be stopped only if a court stays it’s execution," he explained. When the local women said the contractor and his workers had behaved in a derogatory manner with them, the contractor apologized.

"We are not against the power project. However, the company has not maintained transparency and we have not yet received compensation. Let them pay compensation and then take up the work," the women said. When contacted, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board officers said the final file put up with the government by Udupi deputy commissioner on this issue, is expected to be disposed off soon and that the compensation would be paid thereafter.

Home minister Dr Acharya when contacted, asked the people not to oppose the above project, as the state badly is in need of power. He said, the process of payment of compensation was in final stages. Agreeing that there has been delay on account in this matter because of election notification, he said the officers have been asked to move the file on priority and that the agriculturists will get interest from the date of the final notification on the amount due to them.  Acharya expected the company to start initial power production by December this year, easing the present burden of about Rs 450 crore the government is shelling out every month for buying power from various sources.