Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (AF)

Mangalore, Mar 23: The Nagarjuna Power Plant received another setback, not from villagers or anti-Nagarjuna organisations, but from South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) stating that the power plant should be terminated and relocated for ecological reasons.

SICHREM member Geetha Menon told reporters here that the plant would probably affect as many as 10,000 families in around the Padubidri region.

Referring to the study conducted by SICHREM, she said that Nagarjuna has acquired a large area of fertile agricultural lands and forest areas.

Menon along with Nandikur Janajagruthi Samiti president Lakshman Shetty alleged that the company did not conduct an environmental impact assessment before beginning the work on the plant. The setting up of the plant will bring about pollution, damage to marine life and affect livelihood of many, they said.

They said that the loss incurred during relocation of the project will not be much, as the work on its construction has not started in full swing.