Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 11: District in-charge minister, Dr V S Acharya, stressed that coastal area is suitable for generation of power by using imported coal alone. He reasoned that other sources of energy are not suitable for coastal environment.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday January 10 after meeting Pejavar Swamiji at Nandikoor, Acharya pointed out that gas-based power generation is costly and uneconomical. “We have also had a dialogue with Oman on this possibility. Nuclear and hydel power also do not suit us. Solar and wind energy can be generated, but they cannot be used for commercial needs,” he explained.

He revealed that the second thermal power generation unit of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) is ready for power generation, but its commissioning has been delayed, as the state is awaiting central government’s clearance to draw power lines through Western Ghats. “We have spoken to union government, and have confidence that their permission will come soon. In the meanwhile, discharge of used water by UPCL into sea does not create any adversities,” he said.

About dropping of two experts, Ramakrishna and Ramakrishna, from the committee of experts entrusted with studying environmental impact of UPCL, Acharya said these two experts had violated the protocol. He accused them of issuing statements to certain newspapers, giving the opinion that giving permission to UPCL plant was wrong, and that they would complain to central government against Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. He said the decision to axe them was taken considering the above developments.

On the other hand, speaking to Congress activists at Rajeev Bhavan, Kaup, on Tuesday, All India Congress Committee general secretary and Rajya Sabha member, Oscar Fernandes, said that there is every chance that the central government will intervene in the issue and shut down UPCL by way of penal action, if the company fails to address the concerns of the local people. He questioned the state government’s dilly-dallying attitude towards taking action on the woes being heaped by the company on people living in its neighbourhood in the form of environmental pollution and others. Former state minister, Vasant V Salian, accused the state government of failing to forward the report on environment pollution prepared by the department of environment to the central government.