Udupi: State Pollution Control Board Officials Visit UPCL Project
Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Apr 14: In the backdrop of local grievances over Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), the officials of the state Pollution Control Board on a fact finding tour paid a visit to the project site of UPCL on Tuesday April 12.
The officials R Bhaskar and Ravichandra took UPCL environment department DGM Parasuram, and AGM Srinivas Reddy to task over discharging chemical treated saline water into the farmlands and inhabited areas.
The officials went on a door-to-door visit to farmers residing in Saje, Saju, and Kalachur villages that come under the limits of Yellur gram panchayat on the basis of the complaint lodged by local resident Jayant Kumar Upadhya. The officials found that the crops were destroyed due to chemically treated saline water, and drinking water sources are polluted posing health hazards to both local people and livestock. They gathered samples of waters for testing in their laboratories.
Jasmine crop perished:
Jasmine farming has been sustaining many families over many decades in the villages that come under the jurisdiction of Yellur gram panchayat. Since the UPCL thermal power plant was commissioned, jasmine farming has been hard hit by the pollution. The flying ash from the thermal power plant and discharging of chemically treated saline water have been polluting the water sources, besides causing health and environmental hazards. Many of the jasmine farmers have lost their livelihood.
Plantain faming also hard hit:
The high-breed banana plantation of Aithappa Poojary which is located at Kolachur temple and plantation of Jayant Upadhya, and Vimala Muggerti are also extensively damaged due to the seepage of saline water discharged by UPCL. The plantation of commercial crops – areca, palm, pepper, cashew, jackfruit, vegetable, and paddy is also widely damaged.
The local residents expressed their grievances to the officials on the occasion.
Addressing media persons, R Bhaskar said that the environmental damage caused by UPCL has been proved by the evidence. “Despite the notices issued to UPCL authorities by the state Pollution Control Board, no concrete actions are being taken,” he added.
Locals Damodar, Sunil, Nagesh Bhat, and Jayant Kumar Upadhya were present along with the officials.