Padubidri: No one listening to Kolachur Ellu Molya’s grief?

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Padubidri, 10 October 2011: This agricultural land, at one time was producing sufficient rice to feed the joint family of a dozen members. They never had to purchase any vegetables either; all could be produced at the backyard in this land. Cultivation of rice, vegetables, coconuts, beetle nuts, banana were all watered from the well in front of their house. This self-reliant family living with self-respect, has lost most of its land.
 
The remaining land has become salty and in this land now the rice paddy cannot get sprouted, vegetable does not grow, beetle nut is dying, and even the water from their well is not fit for drinking. This is the story of the family of 84 year old Ellu Moolya of Kolachur Grama, Padubidri, Udupi Taluk. The reason for all this grief is the Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) a coal based power plant which has established there.

 

 
 
Ellu Moolya who owned about 7 acre land was depending on this agricultural land and was happily living with his wife, two sons, daughters, grandchildren, altogether 14 members in the family. But 3 – 4 years ago UPCL emerged just next to their land. The government which readily agreed to handover the farmer’s lands to this private company forcefully acquired 4 acre of Eluu Moolya’s agricultural land. Eluu’s family became orphan, but having no other choice they decided to live in the remaining land.
 
Now the power plant has started its operations. Thousands of gallons of salt water from the sea is pumped in through the pipes to cool the coal based boilers. This salt water heats up, gets evaporated and will fall down drop by drop in kilometers of surrounding land. With the continuous fall of this salt water fog since one year; the coconut, beetle nut, banana, vegetable, jasmine flowers are all does not grow here now. They have 4 acre land, but it is of no use.
 
Even the drinking water well also become salty and the water cannot be used for drinking. The salt water released from the power plant has flown into the neighbouring paddy fields and has destroyed the paddy cultivation. “We used to eat the rice and vegetables grown in our fields, but now we have become dependent on others”, weeps elder son Subbayya Moolya.
 
In their land even the grass cannot be grown to feed to their cattles and buffaloes. They had to sell off the pair of buffaloes as they could not feed them anymore. Among the 7 cows from which they could get milk all 3 times, now there are only 3 cows which also have become slim due to lack of feeding.
 
Ellu Moolya, his sons Subbayya Moolya and Jagannatha Moolya have given appeal to UPCL, Deputy Commissioner, local People’s Representatives, Human Rights Commission, Lokayuktha tens of times, pleaded them even. But the blind and deaf capitalist – bureaucrats did not even respond. The local people’s representatives - politicians have not even seen the direction of Ellu Moolya’s house. Deputy Commissioner’s office is just doing the post office work of forwarding the appeals to UPCL and their false replies back to them.
 
When the railway track construction was taking place in 2010 for the transportation of coal to the power plant, Konkan railway cut the narrow road approaching to Ellu Moolya’s house. When Ellu appealed to Railway department, they directed him to UPCL, but UPCL again directed him back to Railway department. Finally there is no road access to Eluu Moolya’s house. He cannot get a tiller to his fields for cultivation work. Even recently when Eluu Moolya was seriously ill, his family could not get vehicle to take him to the hospital, as there is no access.
 
The department has tested his well water and has given report that the water is not suitable for drinking. Until recently there was a bore well belonging to UPCL, but now that is also out of order. This family needs hundreds of pots of water every day, which has to be carried on the head from one kilometer distance. The women of the house are tired and fed up of carrying so much of water every day. Recently these women pleaded to UPCL Officer with tears, to at least provide water to them, but there is no use.
 
Ellu Moolya’s big family which was living a full life is now practically helpless. This is the story of Ellu Moolya’s family. There are hundreds of houses around UPCL who are suffering the losses and difficulties like this. Now the ones who should help in resolving these issues are the Officer’s and the People’s Representative. But can they help to resolve it?