Pics: Chetan Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 7: Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL), which succeeded in commissioning its plant recently after facing lot of teething troubles, has succeeded in getting conditional clearance from the union department of environment and forests for expanding its power generation capacity by installing two thermal power generation units, in addition to the existing two.

However, the clearance given by a committee of experts under the above department is conditional. The committee has asked the promoters of UPCL, which has of late hogged limelight many a time for wrong reasons, to conduct a detailed study on all the dimensions of the environment impact assessment study including logical addressing of critical points contained in arguments placed against the project. The company will have to file a detailed report on all aspects to the ministry before getting the final permission. The committee has heard arguments in favour and in against the plan, before giving conditional clearance.

Some of the conditions contained in the clearance are, to limit the project area to the minimum possible extent, and getting necessary licence and permission wherever applicable under Coastal Regulatory Zone rules. The company has also been directed to ensure that it releases the used sea water back into the deep sea, and not into other streams or canals. The company is also required to submit an integrated report on the implementation of flue-gas desulphurization of emissions, and report on flora and fauna of the region before getting final permission from the union environment and forests ministry.

In the meanwhile, the villagers residing in places surrounding the UPCL project, in association with various organizations, held an emergency meeting in the courtyard of Lord Subrahmanya temple, Padebettu, on Friday August 6. They wanted to launch a composite protest against UPCL, as they have been suffering because of saline, contaminated water being released by the UPCL into the streams in these villages. They said their drinking water and agriculture have been severely affected because of the company's failure to keep up with its promise to abide by the procedures strictly. They decided to organize a protest in front of the main entrance of UPCL on August 17 to protest against the apathy of the company to their problems.