The proposed 100-MW captive power plant of KPR Fertilisers at Bikkavolu in East Godavari district is being opposed by people of 12 villages in the vicinity, apprehending pollution and damage to crops.
The residents of the villages staged a demonstration here on Monday in front of the District Collector’s office, urging the authorities not to permit the establishment of the thermal plant. They said the flyash generated by the plant would devastate crops in the area and make their lives miserable. They said they were not interested in the jobs promised by the company and they did not want the plant.
A public hearing is being held by the AP Pollution Control Board on Wednesday on the issue. Meanwhile, K. Rajasekhara Reddy, Executive Director of KPR Fertilisers, sought to allay the apprehensions of the public. He said KPR Fertilisers had been set up at Bikkavolu village near Samalkot in the district at a cost of Rs 800 crore, with a capacity of 1,200 tonnes per day. It had generated direct employment to 1,600 persons. It had also set up a caustic soda plant at Balavaram in Rangampeta mandal in the district.
He said the State was passing through a severe power crisis and no natural gas was available for setting up a gas-based power plant. Therefore, the company had to opt for a thermal plant but it would import 1600 tonnes of high-quality coal from Indonesia to run the plant and the generation of flyash would be minimal.
Even that would be supplied to the cement plants and there would be no damage to the crops in the vicinity. He urged the public to attend the public hearing and calmly consider all the facts which would be explained to them.
He said KPR Industries would be responsible and it would cause no damage to the environment or people in the vicinity. Besides, it would contribute to the growth of the area, he added.