Oxidation of iron, new problem posed by UPCL

DHNS

Nandikur, 04 May 2011: The coal based Udupi Power Corporation Limited thermal power plant is now set to pose another threat to the people residing in and around five to six km radius of the plant area in the form of oxidation of the iron materials.

 

According to Rama Poojary who works as the MESCOM Lineman, the entire insulators and other iron contents in the electric poll gets rusted within couple of months from installation.

 

 

The rust is deposited on the iron materials and tarnishes the contents there by leading to decay.

 

Everything is melting and the life span of iron materials is barely six months, he said.

 

The reason cited for the immediate oxidation of iron contents in the area is sea water that is used by the Company for boilers. The water vapour that comes out from the chimneys of the boilers contains high content of salts. The salt vapour gets settled everywhere in the area and has not spared even a piece of stone.

 

“The transformer with dual fuse has got corroded within five months. The wires are earthed and shot,” Poojary informed.

 

Nagesh Rao, a localite who owns cement blocks manufacturing unit near the power plant says “Company should use sweet water in the boiler. It is hazardous to substitute it with salt water. I have taken  loan to start my unit and the cement sheds that covers the factory should be changed every now and then. They get rusted very easily.

 

Simultaneously we have power fluctuations and we have to experience worst situations in the days to come. We have not been benefited by the plant in any way,” he added. 

 

Nandikur Janajagruthi Samiti Vice President Raghuram Shetty said “Gandhi’s way of protesting will not yield any results as the scenario has changed. So we have been left with no option but to opt for violent means to seek government’s attention. The crops like areca nut, banana and jasmine have been massively affected,” he said.

 

Vijay Shetty who owns five acre (additional 1 acre that he has already given away to Konkan Railway track that passes besides his house) of land in the area is the victim of contaminated drinking water and health problems.

 

He lives with his wife and kid. He says “we suffer from severe allergies like cough and skin rashes. The water in the well is contaminated and it is not potable,” he added. Shetty said the oxidation of the iron contents is the recent phenomenon added to our woes.