Expert panel report biased, says UPCL

The Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has rejected the findings of the independent report prepared by two experts - Executive Chairman of the Karnataka State Bio-fuel Development Board Y B Ramakrishna and T V Ramachandra of Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Indian Institute of Science and has claimed the report as biased, baseless and done with wrong intentions.

In a press release, the UPCL has denied the allegations made in the report which was published in various news papers earlier. The independent reports submitted by the authors are only self-serving and is based on a biased attitude since the authors are aggrieved and against parties. The findings and listings in the report are generic and not specific to UPCL, says the release. An expert committee consisting of six members appointed by the Udupi Deputy Commissioner has visited and inspected the spot.

The committee has submitted an interim report and based on its recommendations, drift eliminators were installed to mitigate saline water evaporation by cooling tower. Subsequently, Ramakrishna and Ramachandra were also included in the committee as additional members and were subsequently removed by the State government, said the release.

Giving further clarifications, it says that the UPCL project has been well conceived and implemented with the latest technology based on imported coal having a very low ash content.

The UPCL also has the special environmental protection infrastructures like 275 meters height chimney, highly efficient electro static precipitators, sewage treatment plant etc. Both the ambient air quality and water quality are being regularly monitored on continuos basis through a third party recognised by KSPCB. It has also stated that the imported coal is transported carefully to the site.

 “Technically no hydro carbons can ooze out from any of the power plant and so is with the UPCL,” the release stated.