Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/SP)
 
Udupi, Mar 19: The coal-fired Nagarjuna Thermal Power Plant that is being officially commissioned shortly in its new name, Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), began trial generation of electricity about a fortnight ago. During the period the plant is functional, thick smoke being emitted through the chimney of the plant is seen to be covering a large area in the sky, enveloping an area spread of several kilometers.  Those residing in a radius of ten kilometers from the plant are apprehensive about the negative affect the thick smoke engulfing the area since the last about 10 days will have on environment, vegetation, health, etc. 
 

The extreme noise of high decibel levels, caused while firing the furnaces at the plant once every half an hour, is being heard to a distance of about 10 – 15 kilometers.  The people residing in the neighbourhood of the project area are extremely worried over the earth tremors caused by coal-fired furnaces at the Plant.
 
People feel that both air and noise pollution caused by the power plant have contributed for a rise in the temperature during this summer season in the coastal district.  All those local leaders, who had been vehemently opposing the setting up of this plant in the past, appear to have vanished suddenly, at a time when the threat the people had perceived about the plant, is turning into reality. The people’s representatives also seem to be having no time or mood to deal with the issues that have become  major concerns for the locals.