Daijiworld News Network- Udupi (VM)

Udupi, Mar 9: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Jana Jagruthi Samiti, Nandikur, questioning the setting up of the coal-based power project by the Nagarjuna Power Corporation at Yellur near Padubidri.

Speaking to reporters Vijay Kumar Shetty the legal advisor to the Jana Jagruthi Samiti, said that the based on the PIL filed by Samiti president Lakshman Shetty, the High Court had issued notices to the parties- the Union Government, State Government, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and Nagarjuna Power Corporation, However no notice has been issued to KIADB.

The petition was prepared by advocate Narasimhamoorthi but as he was appointed the Advocate General, senior advocate Naganand appeared in die court on behalf of the Samiti. In its petition the Samiti had mentioned that the coal-based power project would have disastrous impact on the environment. Further it argued that Nagarjuna had got approvals from various departments by furnishing wrong information. Inaddition to this expert committee reports were also not taken into consideration before approving the project.

There was no public hearing in the Nagarjuna Power Corporation project and Nagarjuna in its project documents had mentioned that the project would be taken up at Padubidri, but it is being planned at Yellur.

Yet another violation is that even in the notification for acquiring land there was no mention that the land was meant for industrial purpose, disclosed Shetty.