Udupi: The Udupi Power Corporation, established by Nagarjuna Co. of Andhra Pradesh after several years of opposition due to environmental conservationists (who later feel out) is in news for wrong reasons of weather and water pollution around Nandikur, Ellur and Padubidri regions.
The father of this atmospheric pollution projects has been named by Udupi citizens as the present Union Law Minister who as Congress Chief Minister in 1992-94 in Karnataka blessed the power project (not in an industrial estate) but in a crowded agriculturist region near Padubidri, with active assistance of an Andhra Congress MP. Moily remains mum when people around UPC are groaning under difficult conditions created by fly ash in their fields, wells and homes not to speak of atmospheric pollution. The power project, as forewarned by earlier struggles of naturalists who turned enemies of the people under pressure of bribes paid by UPC.
The project has been criticised as new Bhasmasure (Demon of fly-ash) by local people as imported coal (African) is used to ignite and create thermal power in a sensitive coal region that cannot stand heavy/medium industries anymore. Without killing, maiming, or ruining the local people, who live below the Western Ghats and near the Arabian Sea in coastal Karnataka.
Power has been a problem always in the narrow strip of the west coast, until Udupi Power Co. started production. But it is now subjected to birth evil sequences like fly-ash, which disturb thousands of families around in pollution of air, water and fields they need.