The Hindu
Udupi, Apr 9: The Yellur Gram Panchayat has said that it will take action against what it termed as illegal construction activity by Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. (formerly Nagarjuna Power Corporation Ltd.) to set up its 1,015 MW coal-based thermal power plant here.
Speaking to presspersons after handing over a letter to the manager (industrial relations) of the company Shashidhar Karkera, MP Manorama Madhwaraj and president of Yellur Gram Panchayat Vasanti Madhwaraj said Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. was carrying out its construction activity "without obtaining licence and getting the plan sanctioned from the panchayat. This is illegal. The company’s claim that it has taken concurrence of the gram panchayat for the building plan is false. The panchayat has not issued licence nor sanctioned the plan."
They said the company’s statement that the panchayat’s notice to it lowered the esteem of the Union and State Government was without any basis.
"The gram panchayat will not correspond further with the company in this regard and will take action in the next 10-15 days as per the notice issued by it on March 25, 2008. We are concerned about environment," they said.
"Nine neighbouring gram panchayats have supported the Yellur Gram Panchayat. They are Padubidri, Palimar, Mudrangady, Tenka Yermal, Bada, Belapu, Hejmady, Inna and Majur. Many voluntary organisations have also expressed their support," Ms. Manorama Madhwaraj and Ms. Vasanti Madhwaraj said.
Company’s reply
The reply of the Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. on March 28, 2008 to the notice issued by Yellur Gram Panchayat on March 25, 2008 was also released by the panchayat.
In its reply, the company has said, "The construction activity carried on by us is in accordance with law and we deny your allegation that the same is illegal.
"We also deny your allegation that we are negligently carrying on the activities.
"We have not committed any offence as alleged by you. The very fact that we have taken concurrence of the gram panchayat for the building plans, although in law we are not required to do so, establishes that we have shown the necessary deference to the gram panchayat.
"It is not known why the gram panchayat is not showing any deference to the Environment Clearance granted by the Government of India…the threat of disciplinary action held out by you is, therefore, without authority of law."