Govt. cancels allotment of land for thermal plant, nod for industrial zone.

The State Government has finally cancelled the land allotted to NCC Limited for setting up of 1,980 MW thermal power plant at Sompeta in Srikakulam District, an area which had witnessed prolonged agitation by farmers and fishermen culminating in the killing of three persons in police firing on July 14, 2010.

In a move that could trigger another controversy, the Government had, however, allotted the resumed land to the same company, this time around, for setting up a multi -product industrial zone. Sompeta has been a hot spot of the people’s agitation ever since the Government allotted the land, wetland with rich biodiversity, for the setting up of the power plant.

The locals are up in arms against the Government’s decision which, they claim, was based on false claims that the allotted land was wasteland, not wetland (beela as it is called in the local parlance). The land is said to be housing as many as 493 plant species, 123 bird and 120 medicinal plant varieties that would be affected if it is alienated for industrial purposes.

The agitating people were not convinced with the Cabinet decision on cancellation of allotment of land to thermal power project and there was no celebration in the villages when the Cabinet pronounced its decision on cancellation of the project. The latest orders came at a time when the villagers are firm that the Government withdraw any proposal for converting the beela (wetland), which had been sustaining them from generations, into an industrial hub.


THE HINDU