Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 5: Even as activists as well as district in-charge minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, have been crying hoarse over what they term as blatant violation of environmental protection and human rights norms besides failure to meet its own promises by Adani Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (Adani UPCL), the company has managed to enter into an agreement with the state government for expansion of its thermal power plant at Yellur near Padubidri in the district.
On Thursday, representatives of the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government during the Invest Karnataka meet at Bengaluru in which the company got permission to set up two power generation units of 800 mw with an investment of Rs 11,500 crore at Yellur.
Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah, law minister, T B Jayachandra, assistant chief secretary in the department of energy, Ravikumar, assistant chief secretary in the department of commerce and industry, Ratnaprabha, Power Corporation of Karnataka Ltd managing director, T H M Kumar, as well as Adani UPCL chief executive director, Kishore Alva, were present on the occasion.
Industry minister, R V Deshpande, has welcomed Adani group's decision to invest in Karnataka.
At the same time, sister concern of Adani UPCL, Adani Green Energy Ltd has signed an Expression of Interest to invest Rs 7,000 crore by way of solar power generation unit in the state.
Speaking at Invest Karnataka, founder chairman of Adani group, Gautam S Adani, said that his group plans to invest Rs 21,000 crore in Karnataka including construction of a new jetty at New Mangalore port, and greenfield port with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore.
Udupi: BJP criticizes expansion plan
Meanwhile, district BJP has come down heavily on the Congress for its double standards over supporting Adani UPCL. In a statement, district BJP president, Tingale Vikramarjun Hegde, recalled that the UPA government had granted permission to UPCL to setup thermal power plant at Yellur. He pointed out that after its own supporters joined hands in several anti-UPCL activities, Congress government has extended a red carpet welcome to the same group to expand its power plant. He questioned district in-charge minister, Sorake, who has been giving severe tongue-lashing to Adani UPCL, as to whether he has forgotten that his own government is involved in these activities,overlooking what he has been fighting for.
He wanted to know from Sorake whether he was not aware that Siddaramaiah was signing an agreement with Adani group, which the former is opposing. He also questioned the discreet silence owned by people from Belapu who are opposed to the power plant, and who had crossed over to Congress recently. He asked these self-styled environmentalists to show their genuine concern for environment by fight against Sorake for sanctioning expansion of UPCL project, rather than misleading people by telling them lies. He stated that the people had supported BJP in Lok Sabha, gram panchayat and legislative council elections, as they have realized what Congress is up to, and exuded confidence that BJP will repeat its performance in the coming taluk and zilla panchayat elections.