Villagers against power plant

Visakhapatnam: Trouble is brewing against the NTPC’s proposed power plant at Pudimadaka near Achyuthapuram as the villagers have decided to launch a stir against the project fearing issues related to pollution. The local public representatives of the ruling TD have landed in an awkward situation whe-ther to support the locals or go with the government decision.

The state government in the first week issued a GO allotting 1,200 acres of land to NTPC which has planned a 4,000 mw coal-fired power plant. NTPC is expected to invest around Rs 20,000 crore over a period of five years for the project and it is touted as the first mega investment project cleared by the Naidu government. It is learnt that the NTPC will be using latest technology available to commission the power plant.

Residents of Pudimadaka, mostly fisher folk, held a series of meetings ever since the state government issued a GO on September 4 on how to build the pace for agitation against the power project, which they feel the pollution from it will threaten their lives and livelihood.

At a recent meeting, the villagers decided to stage a dharna at the APIIC office located in Achyuthapuram as a prelude to the agitation.

“We know how the surrounding villages were destroyed due to the Simhadri power plant and how it affected the livelihood of those living in and around. We don’t want to face the same fate,” said G. Bapaiah.

NTPC, after undergoing various other formalities and conducting several studies, also needs to hold a public hearing, which may not be an easy task in the wake of growing resistance from locals against the project.

Interestingly, majority of the local public representatives like MPPs and ward members are from the ruling TD and none of them attended any of the meetings.