Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 23: The Anti Nagarjuna Action Committee has come down heavily on Jayasrikrishna Parisara Premi Samiti, for its statement that 40% of the works of Nagarjuna Power Plant in Padubidri have been completed.  The Committee has challenged the Samiti to come prepared for a public debate on the pros and cons of the project within the next ten days.

Speaking at a press conference held here on Tuesday July 22, Vijay Kumar Hegde representing the committee put forth a condition that those coming forward for the debate should have full information on the functioning of the coal-based thermal power plants.

The company has spent around 150 to 200 crore rupees as against the total outlay of over Rs 6,000 crore. How can the Samiti say that 40% of the works have been completed? The Samiti had initially favoured Nagarjuna Power Plant but later opposed the project in a press conference held a few months ago after it was transferred to Lanco. Now again it is saying that the project is good for the people, Hegde said, asking the Samiti to explain its shifting stance on the issue and the basis on which the people can rely on its changing statements.

The Samiti has repeatedly been talking about the Electrostatic Precipitator and some other machinery the plant is installing. These are common machines that need to be installed by all the coal-based power plants. There is nothing new in this. Let the displaced person be compensated first. Evicting them without providing resettlement facilities is illegal, Hegde reiterated.

Jayasrikrishna Parisara Premi Samiti does not seem to be having even primary knowledge about the power sector and coal-based plants. It should come forward for detailed discussions. The Samiti should also apologize to the people for its mis-information campaign that says 40% of the project works have been completed and its act in questioning the opposition to the laying of pipelines, he demanded.

Janardan Tingalaya, Zia-Ul Rahman, Harish Padukare, Nandan Jain, Suresh Acharya, Jitesh Kumar and Navin Padubidri were present at the press conference.