Senior officials of the private power developer East Coast Energy Ltd, which is setting up a 2,640 MW thermal plant in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh today met officials in the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests at Delhi, to present their case about the project progress and compliance related issues.

This was in response to the notice it received last week from the Ministry to stop work.

Based on the interaction, the Ministry will take follow up action, which could mean allowing construction of the project with few more stipulations, or ask the developers to stop work on the project. Another 1,320 MW project planned at Sompeta by NCC (Nagarajuna Construction Company) Ltd, could not be taken up due to opposition from the locals and later due to the Ministry's cancellation of environmental clearance.

The thermal project had run into trouble with locals resorting to agitation against its implementation on February 28, leading to firing which resulted in loss of two lives. Subsequently, the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests, had slapped a notice on the company to stop work.

The Ministry also wanted the company officials to visit the Ministry in Delhi and outline various steps taken by the company with regard to environment protection.

Following this invitation, the company representatives today met the Ministry officials and outlined various issues with regard to the project including the steps taken to ensure the environmentally sensitive coastal area, where the plant is located, is not affected.

Compensation package

The State Government had also on Saturday outlined a compensation package for families of farmers displaced by the project and also hinted that a separate plan would be chalked out for the welfare of fishermen living in the area around where the project is coming up.

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