Udupi: Congress Shifts Stance, Jumps into Anti-UPCL Bandwagon


Udupi: Congress Shifts Stance, Jumps into Anti-UPCL Bandwagon

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 24: It may be recalled that Kaup block Congress president, Gangadhar Suvarna, had a few days back, termed the protest led by former MLA, U R Sabhapaty and the JDS, against Udupi Power Corporation Ltd, as ludicrous.

In a clear shifting of the stance by the party, former minister, Vasant Salian, said on Wednesday February 23 that Kaup block Congress will stage protest against the fly ash being unscientifically dumped by UPCL in Yellur and Mudarangady areas.

Addressing a press conference here, he said he suspects that the district in-charge minister, local people’s representatives and the state government, by their inaction towards redressing the serious problems created by the fly ash, have given rise to suspicion that they have joined hands with the erring company. “To oppose this inertia, and to draw the attention of the government to the grave problems, Kaup block Congress will organize a jatha by foot at 10 am on February 28. The jatha will be taken from Yellur panchayat office to the main gate of the company at 10 am, and a protest by way of demonstration will be held at the main gate of the company till the evening,” he explained.

Salian accused the company of not scientifically storing fly ash, creating breathing problems for students, such other problems for the cattle and the locals and giving rise to other diseases through pollution, polluting wells by not pumping back polluted water into the sea, destruction of fishes because of polluted water of the company being relelased into the sea, and through this action, givin rise to the threat of epidemic diseases hovering over the area.

Congress leaders, Devaraj A Kotian, H Abdulla, Moidinabba, and Hammabba, were present at the press conference.

Pejavar Swamiji Serves a Week’s Closure Ultimatum on UPCL

Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt has asked Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) to shut its thermal power plant near Padubidri in the district within a week. He has warned that in case of the company’s failure to comply with this ultimatum, a mega agitation would be launched against it with the support of the people.

He was speaking after visiting the fly ash pond of the UPCL and regions facing problems because of pollutants released by the company. “The plant should stop its operations by March 3. In case of failure, a huge protest with the support of the general public will be launched in front of the plant on March 4,” he stated.

The Swamiji, accompanied by the office bearers of the district Raita Sangha, visited Padebettu area to get first hand account of problems created by the spreading of saline water there. He listened to the problems narrated to him by the people of Padebettu village, before visiting the fly ash pond of the plant. He was moved by the plight of women, who shed tears, while narrating their woes. Some of them fell to the feet of the Swamiji, seeking his help to save themselves from total decimation. They said they have sought his help as a last resort, as no one else could be of any help to them.

After holding discussions with the office bearers of Raita Sangha, the Swamij posed the above warning. Raita Sangha district president, Vijayakumar Hegde, Mogaveera leader, Janardan Tingalaya, leaders from different villages in the region, Vishwanath Shetty Yermal, and others were present.

The Swamiji accused the people’s representatives, government and the company officials, of furnishing him wrong information in the past about the company, and misleading him into believing that the people of the region do not face problems because of the plant, as modern technology is being made use of, to produce power. “Only after personally visiting the region, have I realized the seriousness of the problem,” he confessed.

The Swamiji termed UPCL as modern day ‘Bhasmasura (a legendary destructive character, armed with divine boon)’, which has been destroying the green coast, uprooting trees and plants and heaping untold miseries on the people. He said that the mode of the agitation will be decided by the people, but insisted that it will be non-violent. He invited people from the twin-districts to join hands with him in this protest.

The locals on Wednesday stopped the company from detonating huge boulders near the fly ash pond.  When the company staffs were found trying to break the boulders by using high power detonators after the Swamiji left, the locals stopped the work, saying that the activity poses the risk of damaging the environment.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Roncy, Mudarangady

    Mon, Feb 28 2011

    Annu u r right only Manorama madhwaraj is the right person.All others elected members have got their pocket full.........

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  • Rudolf, Bantwal

    Fri, Feb 25 2011

    This dubious project has already ruined the environment around Udupi beyond repair. Just see the risk/benefit ratio of this power plant, fully compromising environment and health issues a la carte!!!

    It is still not too late to salvage whatever we can. The plant work needs to be immediately suspended till all environment norms are adhered to. Only a large scale agitation will have the desired effect.

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  • Annu , Paniyur - Dubai

    Fri, Feb 25 2011

    Pejawara Swmiji is the strongest person living in our twin districts, because no one ever had the guts to give the ultimatum to the Nagarjuna.Some times back he visited the same place and d his fight against the govt. and Nagarujuna, unfortunately he was pacified by Dr. V.S Acharya. Swamiji's decision to fight for human right to live in a clean environment is highly appreciated.Every elected member has made money out of this project except Ms.Manorama Madhwaraj - Former M.P.of udupi.

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  • Langoolacharya, Belman/USA

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    People,

    Vasanth Salian was MLA Kaup during this Company started work....

    Kaup block Congress president, Gangadhar Suvarna is none other than his son in law, its ironic he could not find anybody else for this post.............

    Jai Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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  • praveen, mangalore

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    stop upcl. shift to solar.

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  • Balakrishna Shetty, Yellur/Dubai

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    I agree with Rudolf. In our system only the "Sound of Violence is Heard". This is unfortunate. I have a suggestion to politicians - resign and resign now and come on the streets to protest if you honestly care and committed to the safety of the civil society.

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  • Kamath, Udupi/Bengaluru

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    This may be tactic of the company to get additional land in the surroundings. But, just imagine, the type of opinion they have about the so called smart ppl of twin districts. They know, we have no unity..

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Harold D'cunha, Mangalore, India

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    Unfortunately we elect representative who turn out to be impotent and unconcerned to the real issue.
    We agree with the development. But at what cost. Is it against one’s own health. Do u want us, our children, grand children to suffer from chronic diseases from these waste. This is not a political issue rather environmental and social issue affecting the entire area.
    Please don’t politicize the issue rather united work to stop this dangerous, unhaelthay, polluting factory existed in the name of development.

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  • Dinesh Shetty, Padebettu, Padubidri/Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    Dear Readers, this issue is not only limited and affecting the people living around the plant. People of whole South Canara should support the people who are agitating against this project. I can now feel that voice of the people around the UPCL is not enough for the UPCL management. They need a larger voice, so please support this noble cause and help poor people living around the project and who cannot afford medical facility. All the leaders whose names are mentioned in this article, please forget your party, leave politics and listen to your heart. This project is causing larger damage than expected due to negative attitude of UPCL management and ignoring people's voice.

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  • Rudolf, Bantwal

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    Feel very depressed to see such a beautiful place being ruined in the name of development. What is use of this power by losing the purity and serenity of the place?

    The inhabitants of places surrounding this should the best to force the authorities to put all pollution control facilities in place until then the plant should be closed.

    Just a few days back a big SEZ proposed by Reliance in Raigad district in Maharastra was taken back thanks to the stiff resistance offered by farmer groups. Their argument was they do not want to part with their fertile lands and lose their occupations in their bargain. They were questioning the authorities on why not such SEZs planned in areas like Yavatmal where there is ample amount of barren land with farmers committing suicide in large nos due to financial problems.

    Unless people take to the streets and oppose fiercely nothing is going to happen. And this is the legacy we will be leaving to the generations to come.

    The govt is least bothered on the issue and is busy with protecting its seats.

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  • C K DAYANANDA, MANGALURU

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    Instead of criticising Pejawara Swamiji,we should criticise those people who have given wrong information to Swamiji. Even in his old age he has come out of the Math to hear the plight the people and is fighting for their cause. He has the strength to serve ultimatum for closure of UPCL.

    Some times back some rogue elements have made derogatory comments about the physique of the Swamiji and the same was published here. The media should act responsibly and should not publish such comments.

    We should all support the Swamiji in his fight against the UPCL.

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  • William Pais, Mangalore

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    People from South Kanara who are supposed to brilliant and intelligent are turning out to be poolish these days. When there were crieds about environemental degradation about the same nagarjuna Project no one joined the protest. Its only when we are faced with crisis wwe get convinced. Now everyone shouts about the fly ash and contamination of ground water and damage to agriculture. Should we not wake up at the right time. Pejawara Swami who seemes to be genuine in his effort to contain the damage, but lacks consistency in puting forward his position. He changes his vesrsion frequently which is misleading people who have kept faith on his stature.
    Better late than never. People learn some lessons only the harder way.

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  • Roshan, Mangalore

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    One more somashekar Shaking Report. final Report will be there is no land no Man No Ash.(it will happen in 2020 because of UPCL) Jai Ho Karnataka Government (Bharathiya Joker Party)

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  • R Shetty, Mangalore /Dubai

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    The way fly ash disposed and pollution of sea water must be condemned. However we should not be against the Power Generation facility which is necessity for everyone in the district. Instead of method of disposal must be designed and controlled in environment friendly manner. The fly ash should not be stored in open area instead of it can be stored in covered space and could be used for building construction (Fly ash can be used as a replacement to cement in concrete. Discharge polluted liquid/chemical is unpardonable act. UPCL must be heavily fined for this violation and if they are in a position to stop the polluted discharge to sea, the plant must be shutdown with a heavy penalty to the firm.

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  • Shashi Shetty, Santhoor/ Manipal

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    Thanks Daiji World for covering this news.irrespective of political party, religion, caste creed we must oppose this project. you will be doing a yeoman service to the effected people and by and large people of Twin dist and whole of western ghats on the longer run. Remember this is just a begining of the company operation who is producing only about 100MW out of 600 MW they have to produce in the first unit and second unit is a a different story again. Moreover, I request Daiji World to initiate an action of going and checking who are these sub contractors? they are all local goons whom the company have hired to shut the effected people.. these inexpereinced sub contractors are adding up to the problems.

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  • Balakrishna Shetty, Yellur/Dubai

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    UPCL is the re-launching pad for politicians here. Perhaps prostitutes practice better moral ethics. They target two birds with one arrow. Blackmail the company to up the demand and use the issue of peoples' misery for popularity and get elected.

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  • Francis Lobo, Bejai,Mangalore

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    First of all if the same plant was set up in US or European countries ,the owners would have followed all norms as they cannot work against the environment.The Department of Environment is supposed to look at these issued before permissions were given and also monitor once the project is commissioned. Even there is a huge demand for fly ash in cement industry and UPCL also knows this. Since our industry has scant respect for environment and as our political leaders and administrators are deeply entranched with the management/ their own political gains, such incidents are happening. A revolution by people will only solve this.

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  • Satish Kunder, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Thu, Feb 24 2011

    Power projects are required for development but it should not be detrimental to the environment and land.

    I was involved with many power projects in my career but I have not seen a irresponsible Company like this which is not taking enough measures for disposal of effluent and ash and want to save money on that count.

    I advise these Congress leaders to take up the issue with Mr. Jairam Ramesh so that he can take action on the company.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • C K DAYANANDA, MANGALURU

    Wed, Feb 23 2011

    1. All the politicians, officials, members of the associations which supported this project should be made accountable for hazard created by this project.

    2. This and any other similar project should be shifted to plains where human, animal and plant life is not affected.

    3.The human right commissions who are wasting their time in taking up trivial issues like burqua, should take up this issue with the government.

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  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE/YANBU-KSA

    Wed, Feb 23 2011

    Fly Ash issue is a geniune subject with regarding to all (party )people's health problem.UPCL need to be adressed ASAP.However swiming against current is foolish so that Cong also thought to swim with current.

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