Pvt cos gets nod for thermal power projects in AP coast

Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh Government is giving permission indiscriminately for private companies to set up thermal power plants in the State, especially along the coast, unmindful of the likely ecological damage and without any precautions whatsoever, according to Mr K. Babu Rao, President of the Forum for Sustainable Development, and Mr E.A.S Sarma, convener of the Forum for Better Visakha.

At a press conference, they said that during recent months the State Government had granted large stretches of land, especially in ecologically fragile zones along the coast, to private companies for setting up thermal plants.

“The CRZ norms and all other norms are being given the go-by and the State Government is not laying down any stipulations for safeguarding environment. There is no necessity for such hurry and there are better, and ecologically desirable, alternatives,” said Mr Babu Rao.

He cited the instance of the permission given to East Coast Energy Private Ltd to set up a thermal plant in the vicinity of Naupada-Tekkali creek in Srikakulam district and the danger it posed to the habitat, especially the bird sanctuary at Telineelapuram visited by 120 rare species every year. Similarly, he said, the power plant being set up by Thermal Power Tech. Corporation Private Ltd at Polatitippa near Machilipatnam in Krishna district would cause ecological ruin.

The 4,000-MW power project of the Reliance group at Krishnapatnam in Nellore district would also be disastrous, he said. Mr Sarma objected to the move to give 1,200 acres to the Hindujas at Parawada in Visakhapatnam district for setting up a thermal plant.

They said thermal power plants should not be allowed on the coast and elsewhere too they should be permitted, only with due precautions and only when they were absolutely necessary.

“The State Government is not encouraging solar power and other renewable sources of power and resorting to dirty power such as thermal power and private companies are making a quick buck. They are grabbing valuable chunks of land along the coast,” Mr Sarma said.

They also sought greater teeth to the AP Pollution Control Board and they urged the State to reconsider the move on thermal plants.