Forced to halt work on its 2,640-MW super-critical coal-fired power plant at Kakarapalli after violent protests by the local population, East Coast Energy Pvt Ltd (ECEPL) says it will approach the Environment Ministry to assuage concerns about the ecological impact of the project.

“The company will be making a presentation before the Expert Appraisal Committee (Thermal) of Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on March 7, explaining the steps taken in full compliance of the stipulations, and there has been no violation of any condition whatsoever,” ECEPL said in a statement here.

The company is confident of convincing the ministry about the steps taken to safeguard the environment and building the power plant in Srikakulam district in complete compliance with guidelines, it said.

The MoEF yesterday issued a notice to ECEPL, asking it to suspend work following a clash between protesters and policemen in which two agitators were killed and several others, including policemen, were injured.

The coastal part of the district has been tense for the past one week, as villagers are protesting against construction of the power plant. Villagers fear the loss of livelihood and damage to the ecology due to the project.

The MoEF notice instructed the company to submit a report on the issues of clearances, the location of the project and other related matters before March 6.

The matter was raised in the Parliament yesterday, after which Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh promised action.

ECEPL said it has already spent nearly Rs 1,500 crore on the project and is scheduled to commission the first phase of 1,320 MW (2x660-MW) in mid-2013.

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