Udupi, February 24: Ill effects of the coal based Udupi Power Plant (earstwhile Nagarjuna) will include down pour of acid rain, caused by Carbon dioxide, resulting in destruction of forests, agricultural crops and horticultural grows, said noted environmentalist Dr NA Madhyastha.
He was speaking after inaugurating the two day “paadayathra” against the coal based power plant headed by former MLA UR Sabhapathi and JD(S) President Belapu Deveprasad Shetty, at Padubidri here on Thursday. Prior to the inauguration prayers were offered to the presiding deity at Sri Khadgeshwari Temple.
Madhyastha said that the other two serious hazards of the power plant included release of Carbon Monoxide, a slow poison, resulting in skin disease, bronchitis etc and the poisoning of water caused by the ash leaking in to wells, ponds, rivers and even the sea, as the region sees over 400 cm of rain.
Madhyastha said that a study has identified as many as 25 endangered creatures, notified in the Scheduke 1 of Wild Life Protection Act, down the Western Ghats in the coastal region. ``That means the act prohibits setting up of any project affecting the life of those creatures. Unfortunately any coal based power project functioning in the region will affect the endangered species'', he said.
He opined that the ill effects of the coal based power project could be reduced using the latest technology. ``Technology is already available; but if that is used here production of each of unit of power will coast around Rs 15. But, at present, the power generating company has an agreement in place to supply power at Rs 8 per unit. So the question of company using the latest technology, to run on loss, does not arise'', he said.
UR Sabhapathi took the officials to task for submitting reports in favour of the project and suspected the representatives of the people for their silence on the issue. Local Grama Panchayath President Shalini, JD(S) Mahila Morcha President Shalini Shetty Kenchanoor and others were present.
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