Environmentalists, UPCL fail to reach a common ground

Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 16 March 2011: Environmentalists and representatives of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) failed to reach a common ground at an interaction organised here on Tuesday by Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math. The interaction witnessed heated exchanges between the environmentalists and the representatives of UPCL.

 

Chief Operating Officer of UPCL Ravindra said that UPCL was the most environment-friendly thermal plant. It had installed the Flue Gas Desulphurisation equipment at a cost of Rs. 300 crore. Every aspect of the plant was monitored continuously and was within the pollution control norms.

 

He said UPCL had constructed a pond to dump ash in slurry form. It had entered into an agreement with ACC for ash utilisation on long -term basis. ACC would set up a cement mixing plant near the area shortly. Part of the ash was being lifted by ACC in closed bulkers to its cement plant.

 

 

Environmentalist N.A. Madhyastha said that the thermal plant would destroy the fragile ecology of an eco-sensitive district such as Udupi. The Western Ghats with its unique flora and fauna was located close to the eastern side of the district. The district received 400 cm of rainfall during monsoon. Percolation of effluents would pollute groundwater.

 

The district had a high density of population on its coastal belt. Udupi was primarily an agricultural district. Though UPCL was saying that it was using Australian coal, the fact remained that this coal gave out dangerous chemicals such as cadmium and mercury.

 

 

Nearly 300 acres of forest was cleared to make way for the plant. The loss of forest and establishment of the coal-based thermal plant would increase the temperature in the district. The long-term effects of the plant were incalculable.

 

At the end of the meeting, Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji said he would visit the affected villages on Wednesday. “If it is found that people are not satisfied by the pollution control measures taken by UPCL, I will go on a fast, where I will have only one meal a day,” he said.

 

- The Hindu / Udayavani