Udupi, May 3: Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt has one again asked the government to close down 1,200 MW coal-based thermal plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd or else take immediate steps to stop pollution caused by the plant.
The swamiji told presspersons that the independent technical report submitted by two experts T.V. Ramachandra from Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre of Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and the Executive Chairman, Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board Y.B. Ramakrishna, to him had given a detailed description of the pollution problems of the UPCL.
He said he had sent the report to Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and insisted that Mr. Gowda had assured him that he would go through the report and take action.
Mr. Gowda was waiting for a report by an Expert Committee appointed by the State Government on the same problem.
The Government-appointed Expert Committee has still not given its report.
The swamiji said it was incumbent upon the UPCL to take steps to prevent pollution.
It was the responsibility of the Government to see that the UPCL took measures to check pollution. The saline vapour released from the thermal plant and fly ash were two major problems which should be addressed immediately. If these two major problems were tackled, most of the other problems could be solved.
The proposal to build a dam across the Shambhavi river to provide water to UPCL was impractical and would create more problems. The UPCL should set up a desalination plant.
“The pollution by the thermal plant has affected the health of the people and agriculture in the areas around the plant. If the Government cannot get the company to implement pollution control measures, it should be shut,” he said.
“After studying the Government's reaction to the report and consulting people of the affected region, I will decide the future course of action,” he said.
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