Mangalore : KJP state secretary Ramachandra Baikampady said that fishermen must strongly oppose the Karnataka government’s plan of setting up an Ultra Mega Power Plant (UMPP) at Niddodi village in Dakshina Kannada district.

Speaking at the press meet held at Press Club on March 2, Saturday, he said that the Karnataka Government chief minister Jagadish Shettar has sent a proposal to Central government to sanction the permission to set up 4,000 mega watt UMPP at Niddodi by acquiring 4,000 acre of agricultural land from farmers. The power plant would pollute the land, water, air of Dakshina Kannada with toxic content, hence it must be condemned.

He also said that CM has sent the proposal to Central government without consulting the political parties and political leaders of the district.

The present Nandikur coal-based thermal power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) at Yellur in Udupi district has already polluted the river, making fishermen fall in trouble. UMPP at Niddodi is three times bigger than the Nandikur Power plant, hence they have to depend more on river water and releasing the waste back to it. This will spread toxic pollutant in river from Someshwar to Mulky, he said.

The ultra mega power project in the name of Niddodi power plant will put several fishermen’s life in distress, hence the proposal must be taken back, he urged.

Sudhir Puthran and Loknath Kanchan were present at the press meet.