Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 12: As Jayakrishna Shetty, founder president of Jayasrikrishna Parisara Premi Samiti, came out of a press conference he had convened here on Friday December 11 relating to Nagarjuna Thermal Power Plant coming up near Padubidri, president of Nagarjuna Virodhi Horata Samiti, Vijaykumar Hegde, got involved in a verbal duel with him, culminating in Hegde brandishing his footwear at Shetty.

As Jayakrishna Shetty came out of the press conference, Hegde drew his attention to the former’s earlier statement that he would offer a garland of footwear to Medha Patkar over the issue of Special Economic Zone. “If you garland nature lovers with Chappals, we will do the same with you,” Hegde and his supporters said. After Hegde removed his footwear, both the leaders left the place in a hurry in their cars at the request of their respective supporters. When Shetty tried to speak to the journalists over this episode, Hegde did not allow him to do so.

Earier to this incident, at the press conference, Jayakrishna Shtty said that the Samiti had discussed the issue of setting up of a ‘Public Grievances Hearing Centre’ to sort out problems arising out of Nagarjuna Power Plant and Special Economic Zone. The Centre will comprise deputy commissioner, ministers, MLAs and other peoples’ representatives, he explained.

“Jayasrikrishna Parisara Premi Samiti has been striving since the last ten years, to free the district of environment-related problems that are bothering it since the last three decades. The district is facing acute power shortage, and the situation is expected to worsen in future. Therefore, the district is badly in need of Nagarjuna Plant,” he said. 

While noting that 80% of the thermal power plant works have already been completed and the plant will start generating power from April next year, he claimed that the company has already funished 32 documents relating to various clearances and permissions, to the Samiti.

He added that the Samiti will set up River Conservation Committee, to stop the rivers of the district from getting polluted because of the throwing of filth, flesh etc., by the unscrupulous members of the general public. Samiti secretary, Surendra Mendon and vice-president, Kamaruddin, were present.