Karnataka
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Udupi: Hunger Strikers Issue Dire Warning To NTPC
- Mon, Dec 03 2007 02:30:54 PM
Daijiworld Media Network – (NR)
Yellur (Udupi district) Dec 3: Members of the Nagarjuna Virudha Horata Samithi organized a fast (“Anna Satyagraha”) in front of the entrance to the project site of the 1,015 MW coal-based Nagarjuna Thermal Power Project (NTPP) here on Sunday, Dec 2. They were protesting against two aspects the injustice being done by the NTP Company to nine families who were living like captives, with their land fenced off by the company in the project site area and the other being the impact on the environment in the area, as a result of the implementation of the project.
The hunger strike began at 10.30 am with people from all walks of life participating in the same, like political leaders, seers and clergymen. Kemar Mutt seer Isha Vittala Das known to be a fighter for the preservation of the environment speaking on the occasion, admonished the Nagarjuna Power Corporation Ltd. (NPCL) not to restrict the movement of the nine families living within its project site and urged that they should be allowed free entry and exit from the site.
In this context the seer demanded “The company should remove the gates installed by it.” He warned the authorities that if this situation continues, he would garner sufficient political support and protesters to physically break down the fence of the NTPC to stop their illegal work and protect the said nine families. Moreover he said that he did not support the implementation of the Special Economic Zone, near the city.
Further in his opinion the plans to develop the Kodachadri Hill ranges near Kollur in Udupi district, would adversely effect the environment. The Kodachadri Samrakshana Trust had been formed to protect the environment there. Human beings should not become greedy and claim the sole right to live on earth. Environmental concerns could not be brushed away, the seer advised further.
Parish priest of Santhur Church Samuel J. Soans said that he was supporting the struggle against the project as it would have grave impact on the environment. He opined that it is a clear case of violation of fundamental rights of a citizen. Political parties and organisations fighting against the NPCL should do so as a single entity. They should keep their political differences aside while fighting for a public cause.
According to the president of the executive committee of the Samiti Vijaykumar Hegde NTPC should halt the work at the project site as it had not obtained licence from the gram panchayats, where its project was coming up. He demanded that they must remove the fence which they have set up around the project site. Moreover they should give a relief of Rs. 15 lakh to the families living within the project site.
Some of the villagers who were affected by the project narrated their problems to the press persons present on Sunday morning. Accordingly a 70 year old women, a mother of five crying out her woes said that she had three-and-half acres of land at the project site and depended on it for her livelihood. And now her land has been fenced off by the NTPC project. In fact many of them have filed cases against KIADB and NTPC against the process of acquisition of the land and the matter is pending before the Supreme Court.
MP Manorama Madhwaraj, the former MLA Lalaji Mendan, founder-president of the samiti Balakrishna Shetty, president of Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha Pramod Madhwaraj and the fisherfolk leaders were present at the hunger site, which continued till late evening.