The Hindu Business Line : Expedite work on Uttara Kannada power project, Govt urged

Bangalore, June 4 The Centre has urged the Karnataka Government to expedite work on the proposed 4,000 MW ultra mega thermal power project at Tadadi in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, the Minister for Energy, Mr K.S. Eshwarappa, who called on the Union Power Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, in New Delhi on Wednesday, said the Centre has asked the State to address the power deficit situation on a war-footing. The project would have five units each of a generating capacity of 800 MW, the cost of which has been estimated at Rs 20,000 crore.

The Minister said modern technology would be used to tackle issues such as the fly ash, gases and release of hot water from the plant.

“We will inform the locals and environmentalists about adoption of modern technology that will not harm the ecology. As the water would be discharged back into the sea after cooling operation, the project will not pose a threat to the marine life,” Mr Eshwarappa said.

Due to the availability of abundant water and the port at Tadadi, the Centre has been showing keen interest for implementing the project, he said. The Government had earmarked 3,000 acres for the project around Tadadi.

To start the project in 2007, the Union Power Ministry had invited global tenders on March 10, 2006 for the project. Coastal Karnataka Power Ltd, a separate company, was also floated for the purpose. But the project was in limbo following protests by locals.

A meeting of local people, MPs, MLAs, members of local bodies, environmentalists and seers of the district would be convened either in the district or in Bangalore to eliminate apprehensions about the project.

The environmentalists and locals doubt that the project would pollute the Aghanashini valley and adversely affect the eco-tourism in Uttara Kannada region, besides displacing thousands of fishermen from their livelihood.

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