Niddodi reels under tradition versus development debate
Deekshith D V
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Pics: Adarsh Nellyadi
Mangalore, Jul 30: “‘Ammi karnaki sodina’ (we will not allow this),” said Purushotham in Kudubi Konkani language desperately.
‘We will not allow the ultra mega power project’ is the slogan reverberating across the villages of Nidoddi, Tenkamijar, Badagamijar, and Muchoor as well as Puthige, Kallmunkooru, Kateel, Kinnigolli, and Yedapadavu. They are up in arms against the Ultra Mega Power Project planned by government in Niddodi.
Amidst the agitations, hunger strikes, criticism from people of undivided Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, the government is moving ahead with the construction of the 4,000 MW Ultra Mega Power Project on 8,000 acres in Niddodi village.
Nidoddi - Epitome of Greenery
Nidoddi has fertile land with a plethora of green and abundance of water resources. Almost 90 percent of the people rely completely on agriculture for their survival. Crops like rice, areca, banana, betel, jasmine, coconut, sugarcane, and vegetables are prominent crops and income from this cultivation feeds the farmer and his family. During the summer, some small hills of laterite can be found to have dried up but during the monsoon it is filled with green grass where the cattle graze.
‘Gumata’ Music to Fall Silent?
About 75 percent of the people of Nidoddi are from the Kudubi community under OBC category. Kudubis are identified by their own unique culture and heritage. The community also follows its own traditions and practices by pleasing nature and worshiping the deity ‘Vanadurga’ through offerings.
Speaking on the ultra mega power project in Nidoddi and its impact on the culture and heritage of the Kudubi community, Kana Ishwara Gowda, head of Muchoor, said, “We strongly oppose this project. We have our own culture and practices, where we, the people of the community, gather together for various rituals. On auspicious occasions, we dance to the music of the ‘Gumata’. If we are evacuated from here we will be shattered as we will lose our culture and ancestral centers besides losing the agriculture land.”
Durgadas Shetty, social worker, said, “Where can the common farmer go? What will a farmer do if he is evacuated from his agricultural land? We have toiled a lot in this field and we are emotionally attached to this land. Moreover, the whole environment and ecology will be affected.”
eligious Sentiments
Janardhan, painter by profession, said, “There are many religious centers like temples, churches, mosques, schools, colleges, hostels, and ‘Anganwadis’ within a radius of 25 km. All these will all be affected through this power plant project”.
Effect on Nandini River
According to Hindu mythology, the Nandini River is considered a divine river. It is one of the prominent water resources for people and will be severely affected by the toxic agents released from the ultra mega power project.
Struggle to Save Land
“When we ask about this project our representatives do not divulge any information. There is only 196 acres of ‘Gomala Land’. A vast proportion of land is private land owned by farmers. We will not stop our revolution until we get in writing from the government that the project will be scraped. Moreover, this project is a threat to the environment and ecology. Hence, our organization and people in the vicinity will never allow this project. We will hold severe protests, agitations, and hunger strikes,” said Alphonse D’ Souza, president, Nidoddi Mathruboomi Samrakshana Horata Samithi.
Sri Esha Vittaldas Swamiji of Kemar Sandipani Sadhanashrama who has strongly opposed the project, told daijiworld, “Mangaloreans are identified throughout the world by their rich culture and heritage of agriculture. This power project is a strategy to ruin the culture of our Tulunadu. Moreover, the project will affect the fertile land, agriculture and environment and thus it should be stopped. Before taking up any project, the government should study the retention capacity of land and its effect on the environment. Various projects came to the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, but for how many people did they provide employment opportunities? This is nothing but ‘land mafia’. MNC companies come to the district not to help poor people but to ruin our culture and heritage. We will not stop our struggle against such projects."
Effect on Ecology and Environment
“The power plant project will cause various types of environmental damage like air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, chemical pollution, heat pollution, and visual pollution. Power plants require excessive amount of coal. Hence, there should be a large coal yard to stock the coal which in turn needs vast stretches of land. When coal is burnt, it releases various gases like nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, particulate matters, and mercury into the atmosphere which will be cause for various diseases and acid rains,” said renowned environmental writer and journalist Nagesh Hegde.
Vijayakumar Hegde, state vice president, Karnataka Raitha Sangha, and chairman of SUSI Global Research Center, said, “In coal-based industries, our coastal area is the world’s 18th sensitive area. Any project should be taken after public hearing, studying its merits and demerits. But here, it is not considered. Combustion of coal produces ash, where 80 percent is bottom ash and 20 percent fly ash. This 20 percent ash mixed up in the environment causes various harmful diseases. The sea ecology will be disturbed and harmed. The salt water used in radiators for cooling towers will evaporate and concentrated salt will spread throughout the environment upto a radius of 17 km. Also, there is an international airport in Mangalore. It is clearly mentioned that there should be no power plants within a radius of 25 km of the flight path.
Views of Representatives
Vinay Kumar Sorake, Udupi district in-charge minister, said, “We expect an eco-friendly project. We also spoke with the chief minister regarding this issue. This project was proposed by the previous government and we are in favor of the decision taken by Dakshina Kannada incharge minister (Ramanath Rai).”
K Abhayachandra Jain, state minister for youth services and fisheries, said "I am firm on my decision and oppose this project. We also spoke with the chief minister on this issue. After August 15, our commission along with district incharge minister will meet Jyothiraditya Scindia, union minister for power, to convince him about the actual problem.”
Joachim Correa, president, Kallamunkoor gram panchayat, said,“We support our land and our village.”
Report
The National Environment Engineering Research Institute on February, 2006, submitted a report on “Post-clearance environmental impacts and cost benefits of analysis of power generation in India stating thermal power plants". As per the report:
Health camps and free medical checkups should be encouraged for local population situated at least upto 10 km radius from the plant site. Apart from the normal health checkup, emphasis should be given to specific diseases originating due to emission of different pollutants.
Strict and regular medical checkup with respect to hearing abilities should also be made compulsory for the employees.
A quarterly or half yearly monitoring of soil and the crops might grow in the region toe done. The soil should be analyzed for its fertility status as well as any new types of crop diseases generally encountered.
In case of thermal power plants, fly ash management should be given due importance. Double sprinkling systems should be employed to arrest the dispersion of dust particles.
Locals' Plea
Many youth in Nidoddi from the past few weeks have been struggling a lot to save their land, putting all other work aside with determined consciousness. The aged, youth, and children are worried about their land, losing their heritage, culture, and destruction of the environment. People of Nidoddi, along with Mathruboomi Samrakshana Horata Samithi, hae been opposing the project and pleading with union ministers, state ministers, MPs, and MLA to give up the idea of ultra mega power plant project. Government for the purpose of power and development is bent on implementing this project. Development is necessary, without the development man cannot live but every development should be boon to people and definetly not a bane.
Mathruboomi Samrakshana Horata Samithi submitted a memorandum to give up the idea of the project to Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, Pranab Mukherji, President of India, H R Bharadwaj, Governor of State, Siddaramaiah, chief minister of state, Oscar Fernandes, Union cabinet minister for transport, road highways and Government of India., Land acquisition officer, Karnataka Industrial Board , deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, B S Yeddurappa, former chief minister of Karnataka, Sadhananda Gowda former chief minister of Karnataka, Jagadish Shetter former chief minister of Karnataka, Kumaraswamy former chief minister of Karnataka, M Veerappa Moily, union minister for petroleum and natural gas, Sushma Swaraj, opposition leader, Ramanath Rai, state minister for Forest, Environment, Ecology. K Abbayachandra Jain, state minister for both services and fisheries, Nalin Kumar Kateel ,MP, and Jyothiraditya Scindia, union minister for power.
“We will fight till our last breath, we will not leave this land,” asserted Povappa Gowda, convener, Nidoddi Mathruboomi Samrakshana Horata Samiti, echoing the cry of thousands of Niddodi residents.