Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 4: Deputy commissioner (DC) of the district, M T Reju, conducted spot inspection for the cement factory of ACC Ltd, which proposes to use fly ash residue of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd’s thermal power plant for manufacturing cement. Reju inspected the land desired to be allotted to the proposed cement plant.
He went through about 136 acres of land owned by the government as well as the ones that have been notified for National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. This visit had been arranged as per the demand of the gram panchayat members here, and as per a resolution passed at the meeting of the residents of the villages around the plant held at the office of the DC on January 27.
During the visit, the DC said that the ACC’s grinding and packing plant for cement manufacture will come up at the spot within the next 18 months, and that this plant will be using latest technology, and will adhere to the pollution control measures prescribed by law. He said that out of about 100 acres of land required for the project, nearly ten percent is located nearer to human habitats, while the balance is government land. He therefore felt that this area was ideal for industrial growth.
He said that cement factories, which were considered as environment polluting industries in the past, have turned into environmental friendly ones. “Out of the total project area, 30 percent will be occupied by the plant, and balance 70 percent will e green cover, road, etc,” he said, adding that people residing in 25 houses, which have been identified for the purpose, will get suitable compensation. On a question about UPCL’s green cover, he clarified that UPCL has earmarked land for the same, and the government is yet to allot additional land for that purpose.
During this visit, verbal friction between people and some officials arose after an official of Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board gave wrong information on a subject. Gram panchayat members and representatives of Nandikoor Janajagruti Samiti asked the DC not to allow cement factory here, as they feared that it will pollute environment further.
Reju said that the project will come up in Padebettu and nearby areas, but that Vishwakarma Community Hall and Lord Ayyappa Shrine in Padebettu will be untouched.
Village accountant of Padubidri, Suresh Rao, KIADB special land acquisition officer, Krishanmurty, tahsildar, Prasanna Kumar, revenue inspector, Vijay, various gram panchayat members, office bearers of Padebttu Lord Subrahmanya Temple and others accompanied the DC during his visit.