Pejavar seer announces 'fasting protest' against UPCL; Scribes' tempo meets with accident

[email protected] (CD Network)
March 15, 2011
Udupi, March15: Pejawar Mutt pontiff Sri Vishesha Theertha Swamiji has demanded the UPCL to stop the production of power, affecting health and environment, till the life of the people affected by the same is set right.

Swamiji has also announced to observe one meal a day fasting, to show his concern for the affected people and share their sufferings, from Saturday.

He was speaking at the interaction programme between the environmental experts, activists, journalists and the representatives of UPCL, held at Srikrishna Balaniketana, Kukkikatte, near here on Tuesday evening.

15coast1

It is to be noted here that ill effects of the coal based power plant had resulted in water in the local wells turning saline, due to the discharge of water, released after cooling the boilers. In addition to that the bottom ash stored in a natural lake turned open ash pond, has been creating havoc in the life of the families residing in the area.

Speaking at the interaction programme environmentalist Ashok Kundapur took the UPCL to task for not feeling sorry in spite of causing health and environmental hazards and not rectifying the same to safeguard the interests of the people.

Environment expert Dr NA Madhyastha warned that abuse of nature would be retracted immediately, as it happened on Japan. He said that as the area beneath the Western Ghats, is very sensitive, abuse of fertile area in and around project site would surely result in disaster of some sort.

On the occasion, Jayakrishna Shetty of Jayashreekrishna Parisara Samithi confessed to have worked as the agent of Nagarjuna and Lanco, but took the present UPCL management to task for their gross negligence affecting the people. “It is fit case for filing an FIR against UPCL. It should be kicked out from the district”, Shetty added.

Activist Vidya Dinkar objected to UPCL producing power without a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) approved by the KERC. “They are selling the power in black to the Karnataka government. State government and the District-in-charge Minister Dr VS Acharya may in collusion with the company'', she accused. Vidya also demanded the company to make public the Environment Impact Assessment Report.

Replying to the queries Vice President (Operations) of UPCL Kishore Alva and its COO Raveendran agreed to have caused some nuisance and said that everything had been set right a week back.

Accident

As per the decision of the meeting all the members decided to visit the project site immediately to have a first hand report of the situation in the site. Although Pejawar Swamiji reached the ash pond site, the programme got cancelled as two of the tempo travelers, in which journalists were visiting the site, met with an accident by colliding each other. In the incident, environmentalist Ashok Kundapur and some of the journalists and cameramen got hurt. After the incident Swamiji, Kishore Alva and others returned from the site postponing the visit to Wednesday.


15coast4

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 29,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 29: As many as 11 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours in Karnataka, said the State's Health Department on Wednesday.

According to an official statement, 11 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from 5 pm on April 28 to 5 pm on April 29.

"With this, the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state has mounted to 534, of which 20 deaths have been reported and 215 people have recovered," added the statement.

Of 20 coronavirus patients who died, one death was due to the non-COVID cause, the statement further said.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 11,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 11: Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Saturda said that he was hopeful that the Karnataka Chief Minister would take stern action against BJP MLA M Jayaram--who was on Friday seen celebrating his birthday with several villagers in Gubbi taluk in Tumkur, in violation of social isolation measures and nationwide lockdown to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

"I am sure that the Chief Minister will take action on all these types of activities. We have already petitioned the DGP. Suo moto case should be registered immediately," the Karnataka Congress Chief told media.

Speaking about the video conference meeting that Congress President Sonia Gandhi held with all Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents via video conference, he said: "She has given us directions that the party has to play its own role. She said that the party needs to be very active, apart from the government."

With regards to the farmer's struggles due to the national lockdown, the Karnataka Congress Chief said that the farmers are in a 'very grim situation'. "I appeal to all the people of Karnataka that we should go to the fields and discuss with farmers and buy the materials. Let us purchase their fruits and vegetables and distribute them at the village level."

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
January 2,2020

Tumakuru, Jan 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the Congress and its allies opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act, saying they are against giving relief to those who have been brutalised and victimised in Pakistan.

"Pakistan was founded on religious grounds due to which atrocities on minorities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Christians have increased. But Congress and its allies don't speak against Pakistan," he said at a function here.

He also said the Congress and its allies take out rallies and stage demonstrations against the efforts to prevent atrocities on religious lines and save women from sexual assaults.

Modi wondered why those opposed to the CAA were not speaking out against Pakistan's atrocities and asked what stopped them from doing so.

Strongly defending the CAA, he said it was adopted by Parliament in a historic move, but that the Congress and its allies and the ecosystem created by his party's rival were now against the very institution.

He said India cannot leave the Hindus, Christians and Sikhs apparently fleeing Pakistan to "their fate" and added it was the country's responsibility to protect them.

Modi pointed out that the efforts are especially to protect the Dalits and tribals in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that the abrogation of Article 370 was a step towards ending terrorism and uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.