Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Jun 5: A divisional bench of the state High Court admitted a public interest petition filed by the Shambhoor Mini Hydel Power Project Affected People's Welfare Committee and ordered issuance of notices to both the central and state governments. The petitioners have vehemently opposed the setting up of the above hydel power project.

Ritwik Energy Generation Company has been granted permission by the government to set up the said hydel power project on the banks of river Netravati near Shambhoor in the taluk. The Committee has said, the company, by starting works on the project without filing an exhaustive report over the agricultural and other lands that will get submerged due to the project to the government, is working against the interests of the affected persons who will be losing their lands to the project. The divisional bench headed by Chief Justice P D Dinakaran accepted the petition for hearing and issued notices to the two governments.

The company has been asked to file full details of the families being affected by the project, area of land that will come under water, what steps the company has taken to ensure that the project does not endanger the environment etc., with the High Court.