Mangalore: “The Centre is putting pressure on the state government to set up the Niddodi power plant” said Energy Minister D K Shivakumar at a recent meeting that has fuelled panic among the residents of Niddodi.

Even after the stiff protest by the Niddodi villagers to the proposed Ultra Mega Thermal Power plant, the state government has no plans of dropping the project as there was immense pressure from the Central government to build the Super Thermal power project at Niddodi near Mangalore.

However, as yet, no land has been acquired for the same.

“The project will happen only if we get the support of the local people. However nobody can deny that Niddodi plant will have a distinct cost effect. Due to  the coal availability through Mangalore Port, I expect the selling rate will come down by `Rs. 1 per unit,” he said.

After Shivakumar’s statement, the villagers are bracing up to kick start another round of agitation against the project and there is a probability of a state- wide protest.