Mangalore: Thousands in Niddodi go on hunger strike against power project
Lionel Pinto / Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jul 28: Over a thousand people gathered at Niddodi junction here on Sunday July 28 under the leadership of Matrubhoomi Horata Samiti and launched a hunger strike against the setting up of 4,000-MW ultra mega power plant proposed by the central and the state governments.
The hunger strike began at 6 am, and despite heavy rains people actively participated in thousands to vent their anger and protest against the thermal power plant.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Alphonse D'Souza, president of Matrubhoomi Horata Samiti, said, "Only 800 acre of government land is availabe in this area and the government is planning to implement this mega power project on 4,000 acres of land, by acquiring the remaining land through KIADB. This will affect the villages of Niddodi, Tenka Mijar, Badaga Mijar, Kallamundkur, Muchur, Neerude, Puttige, Kateel, Mennabettu and Kinnigoli where people rely on agriculture for their livelihood. This project will not only distroy the fertile land and soil but also have a great impact on people's and animals' health.
"We have already seen the effect of Nandikoor power plant (UPCL) which is producing 1,000-megawatt of power. The power plant the government is planning to start here is four times bigger in terms of power generation. Even though high-level talks have been going on to start the project as early as possible, neither the government nor the officials of KIADB who are acquiring the land for the project or our political leaders are giving a clear cut picture about the project," he said.
"A team of officials from the central government came here on May 16 to conduct survey for the project, but we villagers strongly protested and sent the team back. The government has shown this land as a barren land in the records, whereas in reality this area is a green belt area and people's main occupation is agriculture. Thus the government is forcibly trying to bring this project over here without taking the locals into confidence. We will not allow the government to start this project here at any cost. We are ready to sacrifice our life for our land," he declared.
Many organizations have supported the hunger strike, including Dakshina Kannada district farmers' rights forum. The hunger strike will continue till 6 pm.
The protestors also wrote postcards addressing the chief minister, in which they expressed strong opposition to the project and demanded its withdrawal. The postcards will be sent to CM Siddaramaiah.
Hasiru Sene district convener Dayanada Shetty, convener of Apna Desh Sheik Abdulla, Consumers' Forum president T N Ramesh, district farmers' association secretary Manohar Shetty, president Rohithaksha, local gram panchayat president Joachim Tauro, members and heads of Mathrubhoomi Samrakshana Horata Samiti, few political representatives, people from Mulky, Moodbidri, Gurpur and other parts took part in the protest.