Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)
Kaup, Mar 13: A committee of experts has submitted its report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in which it has mentioned about finding increased lung infections and Asthma in 15 villages located in the neighbourhood of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd's (UPCL) thermal power plant at Nandikoor near Padubidri.
Sometime back the NGT had appointed a committee of experts and asked it conduct a study about the adverse effect of the thermal power plant on the health of the people and submit a report.
The committee has said that lung infection and asthma have increased by 171 and 293 percent respectively in 15 villages located within a radius of ten kilometres from the UPCL plant. This is documented in government hospitals. This survey has not covered information and statistics that may be available in private hospitals.
The committee also has expressed the opinion that between 2010 and 2020, the locals have spent about Rs 74.93 crore towards treatment and to address ill effects of environmental damage caused by the plant.