Permission for Nagarjuna’s power plant suspended after two die in firing

Following a massive protest by villagers (mostly fisherfolk) and activists in Sompenta in Andhra Pradesh during which two persons were killed in police firing on Wednesday, the government on Thursday suspended the environmental clearance given to Nagarjuna Construction Co to set up a Rs12,000 crore power plant there.

The permission given to Nagarjuna was suspended by the National Environmental Appellate Authority. Nagarjuna's was among three thermal power projects cleared by the union government on over 10,000 acres to produce 10,000 mw of power.

While suspending the permission for the Nagarjuna project, the authority accused the government of misrepresenting facts, and asked that all wetlands should be clearly identified before approval for other projects is granted. The three other thermal power plants are to be set up in a swampy area, close to a bird sanctuary. One will occupy a lagoon region.

"These are very highly polluting, coal-fired power plants. This kind of industry is not supposed to come up in this era of global warming. Everywhere in developed countries, coal-fired power plants are looked upon as death factories," says environmental scientist Babu Rao.

Not surprisingly, the Srikakulam issue was adopted quickly by politicians with MLAs from the Opposition Telugu Desam Party demanding the resignation of revenue minister Prasada Rao. As many as 57 TDP legislators, who were protesting in the well of the house, were suspended for the day.

"All these projects will get Rs85,000 crore investment to Srikakulam district by which thousands of jobs, new townships will come up and economic activity will increase,'' said Rao in his defence.