Comments
The public hearing on the proposed 100-MW thermal power plant of KPR Industries (India) Ltd - a fertiliser unit - was on Wednesday disrupted and deferred between Dontamuru of Rangampeta mandal and Balabhadrapuram of Bikkavolu mandal in East Godavari district.
Tension gripped the area as police used force to chase the mob who hurled stones and shoes onto the dais where the District Collector Neetu Kumari Prasad and other officials were seated and also at the vehicle of the collector.
The public hearing was postponed by the Collector and the police took 20 persons into custody. Forty persons including four policemen were injured in the incident.
KPR Industries, which is operating a fertilisers and chemical factory in Bikkavolu mandal has acquired land for 100-MW captive thermal plant for its proposed caustic soda plant and another pesticides factory between Dontamuru and Balabhadrapuram.
It was alleged that the public hearing was not communicated to the local villagers much in advance and only two days before it was conveyed to them.
From Wednesday morning, villagers from two villages started assembling at the venue and more than 5,000 gathered at the point. There was also heavy police deployment, expecting trouble from the mob who came with placards and banners.
P. Rama Reddy, a local leader, led the villagers to the meeting point and started shouting slogans against the management just before the arrival of District Collector Neetu Kumari Prasad.
The Collector later said the management had already acquired land and the villagers knew about the proposed thermal plant for the past six months.
She said the environmental concerns were addressed in the environmental impact assessment report of the company.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.