Kasargod, Oct 2: Environmentalists and political parties have expressed concern over proposed gas or thermal-based power project at Cheemeni in Kasargod district.
The apprehensions about the project intensified recently after Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed reportedly shot out a letter to the Union Power Ministry, seeking allocation of requisite coal for the project, Samithi convener K.M. Anil Kumar said.
Besides, the Minister is said to have sought environmental clearance for setting up the project, Mr. Anil Kumar said.
The project, vested with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), is reportedly trying to acquire 2,000 acres of land for the mega power project even though it could be set up on 200 acres of land, he said.
District Collector P.S. Muhammed Sagir said there had been efforts to send a delegation of top leaders of various political parties from the district along with the local MP, P. Karunakaran, and the five MLAs from the district to select NTPC power plants in the country in a bid to allay their apprehensions over the proposed project.
However, none of the parties or the leaders had given a concrete reply to the proposal even after a month, amply reflecting their stance against the project.
The environmentalists also said that several families in and around the panchayat would have to leave their homes once the project took off, Mr. Anil Kumar said.
However, Mr. Sagir maintained that the project required only 600 acres of land and the project, once realised, would address the acute power shortage in north Kerala, which lacked a major power-generation project.
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