Mangalore: In response to the opposition to establishment of an ultra mega power plant at Niddodi, which is 40km from the city, Minister for Energy DK Shivkumar said here on Tuesday October 28, that the district administration in agreement with the locals must suggest an alternative location.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Swarna Soudha, the association building of Electricity Board Engineers at Kavoor on the city’s outskirts.  He said setting up of power plant in the coastal region was ideal due to its proximity to ports from where coal could be imported.

Shivkumar said, “It has been the policy of the Central government to set up power plants close to the coast. Currently, the transportation of coals through rail adds about Rs 1 per unit produced.”

He clarified that the state government did not specify Niddodi and added that local representatives should ‘convince’ people and find an alternative land for the project.

He said ‘incentives’ will be provided to the district that sets up a new power plant and even promised that uninterrupted power supply will be provided to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district.

The government has decided to provide 24X7 power supply for industries as well, he added.

On lineman problems, he said the department would appoint 6,000 linemen within the next five months.

Earlier, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLA B.A Mohiuddin Bawa said that the people in the district did not agree with Niddodi project, due to the issues concerning Udupi Power Corporation limited in Nandikur.

The locals fear that the same concerns will rise in the Niddodi areas as well if a power plant is built, they added.

Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Ramanath Rai, Engineers of the Electricity Board namely Venkatashiva Reddy, V S Bidari, Viajayanarasimha, Ramakrishna and N Laxman were present among others.