No consensus at meet on Kudgi thermal power project

Contradictory views emerged at a meeting held in Bengaluru on Monday convened by the State government with farmers of Basavanabagewadi taluk of Vijayapura district, who are up in arms against the Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project (KSTPP), that is coming up in the region.

The meeting was presided by chief minister Siddaramaiah and attended by farmer representatives, legislators of the region, officials and was meant to find a solution to the imbroglio.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said the farmers had decided to withdraw their protest. However, the farmers said they had only assured that they would withdraw the protest only if National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is executing the project, stops work on the 2,400 MW power plant.

Shivakumar said that the State government had convinced the farmers that there will be no health hazard due to the project.

A section of farmers will also be taken on a study tour to other mega projects taken up by the NTPC.

The farmers said they had no objection to power being generated in the region, but had sought employment and educational opportunities to the families of the displaced, among others.