Jairam promises action against Kakarapalli power project

Union Minister for Environment  Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said that the Centre will serve another show cause notice to East Coast Energy Pvt Ltd if it emerges that any violations have taken place.

Terming the deaths of two protestors at Santhabomali as ‘tragic’ and ‘unfortunate’, Mr Ramesh told the Rajya Sabha that the Environment Minister would clarify if public hearings by the Company have been conducted and also ascertain if it had violated any rules.

The Union Minister’s statement comes a day after police opened fire on protesting villagers in Kakarapalli in Srikakulam district, killing two of the protestors. The villagers were protesting against the proposed 2,640 MW Super Critical power project in Santhabomali Mandal.

The villagers claimed that the precious wetland has been given to the company. They also claim that the power plant would damage the local ecology and also affect their traditional methods of livelihood.

Mr Ramesh pointed out to the Upper House that the company was served a show-cause notice earlier as well for violating norms. He said that some action would be taken.

The Union Minister’s words were a response to a plea by senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao to stop work on the project as the local people were not in favour of it.