Udupi: Associations urge CBI probe on UPCL irregularities

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 31 October 2011: Nandikoor Janajagrati Samiti and Karnataka Raitha Sangha have urged for CBI probe on the irregularities behind the establishing of Udupi Power Corporation. Janajagrati Samiti President Balakrishna S. Shetty speaking in a press conference on Sunday said that, Advani who will be coming to Udupi for the corruption free society and politics must instruct the government of his own party which rules the state, to conduct the CBI probe on the illegally established UPCL and the Officers who have given the permission illegally.

 

 
Deputy Commissioner Dr. M.T. Reju had called a public hearing meeting for August 29, but since there were possibilities of the irregularities in the crores of rupees funds, irregularities in the land acquiring and the illegal issuance of environmental clearance could become public, the meetings seems to have been cancelled in the midnight of 28th August, he accused.
 
To establish a coal based power plant Udupi district is not a desert and also not a land without population. This is a good agricultural land and there is no suitable provision of railway network and water supply available here for the heat based power plant. Besides, there is strong opposition from the people. But still the government has established the power plant here, that shows the money dealing behind this, he said.
 
If the information collected by the environmental department is true, then it is not possible to give the permission for this project. For supplying the power from UPCL to Bangalore, KPTCL will have to cut 4 lakhs trees in Western Ghats with a cost of 396.39 laks rupees. The forest - environmental department has expressed opposition for establishing this project in Ellur for environmental and social reasons. Environmental and water rules are also not in support of this project, he said.
 
We were to furnish all the witnesses and documents in the public hearing meeting. But since the illegal activities will become public, the Deputy Commissioner has cancelled the meeting as per the instructions from the government, he said.
 
In the press conference Samiti Secretary Jayanth Rao, zonal activist Nagesh Bhat, Advisor Vidya Dinakar, Raitha Sangha District President Vijaykumar Hegde, Secretary Shashidhar Shetty, Country boat fishing Sangha President Janardhana Thingalaya, Govinda Suvarna, Sadashiva Kanchan, Monappa Kunder and others were present.