Concern over adverse impacts of proposed thermal plant in Kasargod

October 2, 2014

Kasargod, Oct 2: Environmentalists and political parties have expressed concern over proposed gas or thermal-based power project at Cheemeni in Kasargod district.

The Kayyur-Cheemeni Panchayat Paristhithi Samrakshana Samithi held a meeting recently demanding that the authorities provide the project report and its environment impact studies for a detailed public scrutiny.

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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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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