In a letter to UN (Environmental programmes) Executive Director Achim Stiner, the copies of which were released to the press, Samithi Honourary President Balakrishna Shetty regretted that the ruling party has been using force to implement the project.
The Samithi was successful in its struggle against coal based power projects since 1987. However, the government has allowed the Nagarjuna firm to set up a coal based power project in the same area in spite of the strict opposition from the local people.
The Western Ghats are one of the 18 bio-diversity hot spots in the world and the study reports have confirmed the same. However, the government has been showing lackadaisical attitude towards soil, water and forest area in the region. “There is no need for such a project in the region,” he said and urged the UN to intervene and stop the work on the project.
Quoting reports from NEERI and IISc, Mr Shetty said that the reports clearly state that the Western Ghats can not ‘bear’ such projects.
In fact, the Environmental Department of the State government too has given a similar report way back in 2003. However, the politicians have given the green signal to the proposed project by hiding the facts from the members of the public, Mr Shetty alleged. It is estimated that the project would produce 1015 MW power per day by burning about 9,000 tonnes of coal following which huge quantity of ‘fly ash’ will be generated. The proposed project would destroy marine life besides affecting people’s health, crops, fish life, animals and birds, the letter stated.
The farmers of the region were forcibly evicted from the proposed project site and a huge portion of the forest has been illegally cut.
The wells and borewells in the region too were closed thus creating problem to the farmers.
Though religious heads and land lords have already approched the courts, the work is going on unabated. In this background, the UN should intervene, Mr Shetty urged in the letter.