Mangalore, Apr 29: During the political campaigning, various political leaders assured the voters to stop the implementation of Niddodi thermal power project, since it would have the disastrous impact on ecology, environment and quality of life, but it is now revealed that on June 24, 2013, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written a letter to minister for state for power, Jyotiraditya Scindia urging to execute the project as soon as possible.
In the copy of letter procured through Right to Information Act, CM had urged the government to start the building construction and commissioning of this power project, since there is demand for electricity in the state, as there is no other central government power project in the state.
CM also urged the minister to direct the Central Electricity Authority to take steps on this issue and follow up the action very soon.
However, Minister Scindia in his reply letter dated August 8, 2013, stated that the Central Electricity Authority had visited Niddodi for this purpose and the authority had told him that a report had been submitted in this connection on June 19. He also said that he had discussed the matter in the presence of chief secretary (energy) about the Niddodi visit held on May 17 and urged him to direct the concerned officials to take further steps for early execution of the project.
Prior to establishing project in Niddodi, the Power Corporation of Karnataka Ltd had also considered places like Mudipu and Paladka before finalizing the project.
The power project will require 285 acres of private land and 160 acres of government land in Niddodi, 343 acres of private land and 123 acres of government land in Tenka Mijar, and 406 acres of private land and 405 acres of government land in Badaga Mijar village.
Before the election, political leaders like Abhaychandra Jain, Nalin Kumar Kateel and Janardhan Poojary also had strongly opposed to this project, but it must be further, whether these leaders will stick to their promise or not.
