UPCL questioned on storage of fly ash

March 8, 2011

Bangalore, March 8: Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has directed Udupi Power Corporation Limited to submit an action plan on how they propose to dispose of large quantities of fly ash that is being stored at their storage unit in Udupi.

Following complaints, and after inspections by its regional office, the KSPCB had issued a notice summoning UPCL officials to Bangalore. Farmer groups from Santhur village and the Mudrangady gram panchayat had filed complaints against the company, and had threatened to launch an agitation. They claimed that fly ash from the ash pond of the coal-based thermal plant was posing environmental and health hazards. Further, they also said that their crops were being impacted by pollution.

There was a plan to set up a cement unit with ACC Cements, which did not materialise, the KSPCB Chairman A.S. Sadashivaiah said. They have also been directed to set up an ambient air quality monitoring unit near the fly ash pond so the air pollution can be constantly monitored and records can be maintained.

“We will be strictly monitoring all the action that they will be taking. We are taking it up seriously, which is why we immediately issued the notice.”

He added that until they are able to make requisite arrangements from proportionate utilisation of fly ash, the permits for operation of the second phase will not be granted.

Speaking to media, a top KSPCB official said that the UPCL was storing no less than 25,000 tonnes of fly ash at its storage facility. “This is way above how much a storage unit can handle. Though they may be storing it in slurry form, the fact that they are not utilising 50 per cent of what they are producing (as is mandated) is in itself an issue,” the official said. The official added that only 200 tonnes is being pushed out for cement production in Chickballapur.

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Dakshina Kannada’s 8-year-old author debuts novel on world stage at Sharjah Book Fair

Media Release

November 24,2025

Sharjah, UAE: Ayisha Basheer Esra, a talented young writer hailing from Aramboor in Dakshina Kannada’s Sullia taluk, marked a significant milestone in her burgeoning literary career with the launch of her debut novel, The Betrayal of the Kingdom, at the Sharjah International Book Fair. The prestigious event, recognized as the world’s largest book fair, provided a fitting stage for the unveiling of Esra’s work.

The official release ceremony was conducted by Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director of the Religious Affairs Office of the Sharjah Government and a distinguished member of the royal family, underscoring the significance of Esra’s achievement. Mrs. Lini Shivaprasad, Principal of GEMS Millennium School, Sharjah, had the honor of receiving the first copy of the novel.

The event was graced by the presence of numerous distinguished guests, reflecting the widespread recognition of Esra’s literary talent and the anticipation surrounding her debut novel. Among the notable attendees were Syed Panakkad Munawwarali Shihab Tangal, Dr. Mariam Al Shenasi, the UAE’s renowned writer and Head of Dar Al Yasmin Publications, Dr. K. K. N. Kurup, Retired Vice Chancellor of Calicut University and Historian, Sharjah Businessman Shamsuddin Bin Mohideen, Nizar Talangara, President of the Sharjah Indian Association, V. T Salim, Director of Silver Home Real Estate, Munir Al Wafa, MD of Lipi Publication Akbar, and other esteemed individuals.

At the remarkably young age of eight, Esra has already established herself as a prolific writer, authoring and publishing collections of short stories in addition to her newly released full-length novel. Her dedication to writing and her exceptional talent have positioned her as one of the youngest authors to achieve such literary success.

Esra is the daughter of Basheer and Haseena, residents of Aramboor, Sullia, and currently a student at Sharjah’s GEMS Millennium School. Her early accomplishments serve as an inspiration to aspiring young writers and a testament to the power of nurturing creativity from a young age.

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