Newskarantaka – Moodabidri
Moodabidri: The members of Matrubhoomi Samrakshana Horata Samiti of Niddodi and the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project along with the residents of the area expressed their opposition to the proposed ultra mega power plant (UMPP) at Niddodi.
The proposed plant can produce 4000 mega watt of power, which is three times more than the UPCL unit and has equal effect on the environment.
Once the power plant is set up in areas like Niddodi, Tenkamijaru, Badaga Mijaru, Mucchur will face problems and it will also affect other areas like Puttige, Kallamundkur, Kateel, Kinnigoli, Yedapadav and others, said the protestors. Now people are scared about Moodbidri losing its importance, they added.
Addressing the protestors, Dr Sonda Bhasker Bhat, Lecturer in SDPT College, Kateel said the drastic consequences of a thermal power project are evident in case of the UPCL plant at Nandikur where there is abundance of air as well as water resources to a great extent posing health hazards to the locals.
Alphonse D’Souza, President of Mathru Bhoomi Samrakshana Samithi said despite staging several protests and submitting memoranda to various authorities, so far there is no official information from the government on dropping the project. It is said that earlier the setting up of a power plant by the central power ministry, in the area came to the attention of the residents only through the media, and likewise there is still no information.
Dugge Gowda, Udupi District Director of the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, said any project that is detrimental to the farm sector should not be established and we thoroughly oppose this Project.
The protestors conducted a protest march, from Kallamundkur. More than 2500 people took part in the protest which concluded by submitting a memorandum addressing the Chief Minister. The memorandum was handed over to the Moodbidri Tahsildar.