M’bidri: Ministers from DK & Udupi to Convince Union Govt in Shelving Niddodi Project
By Robert DCosta
Pics by Ashritha D Souza
Bellevision Media Network
Moodbidri, 22 Aug, 2013 : ‘As long as I live, I will not let ultra mega thermal plant to come up in Niddodi. I have been in the front in staging struggle against the proposed mega plant in the past and will be with you always. I support the mass struggle. In a week’s time, we four state ministers of undivided Dakshina Kannada district will go to New Delhi, in order to urge the union government to shelve the proposal, said state youth service and fisheries minister K Abayachandra Jain.
The minister Abayachandra Jain was speaking after accepting the memorandum from a delegation of Kudubi community comprised 60 persons from Niddodi, Badagamijar, Mucchur, Puttige and Kompadav villages, at the minister’s residence at about 7.50am on Wednesday August 21.
The minister Abayachandra further said that Kudubi community has been dear to him since his childhood and will not allow threat to their existence, assured minister Abayachandra.
The proposed ultra mega power project in the neighbourhood of Niddody threatens the fertile large farmlands, extinct native culture of Kudubi community who cannot imagine without their natural habitat. The community living since several centuries in Tenkamijar, Badagamijar, Mucchur, Puttige and Kompadavu villages face the imminent threat from the proposed power plant. Ten different tribes of Kudubi community numbering over 1,500 families are likely to be displaced. The ancient traditions and practices of district Kudubi community will go extinct. The community has contributed to Tulunadu culture significantly. At this backdrop, the Kudubi community urged the minister Abayachandra to convince the union government to shelve the project in their neighbourhood, urged Kudubi community.