Plant agitators pin hopes on Deo

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Oct 3, 2012: With Union tribal welfare and panchayat raj minist-er V. Kishore Chandra Deo revoking the licenses giv-en to AP Mining Develop-ment Corporation (APMDC) to mine bauxite in Vizag Agency tracts, those opposing the proposed thermal power plant by a private company in Komarada mandal of Vizi-anagaram district are hoping that Mr Deo would now strive for cancellation of li-censes for the power plant.

Alpha Infraprop Pvt Ltd (AIPL) is likely to set up 2,640 mw thermal power plant at Kotipam village in Komarada mandal. While government acquired certain portions of the land and allotted it to set up the plant, the AIPL bought some more tracts in and around four panchayats in Komarada. Nearly 1,675 acres are needed to establish the power.

The environmental public hearing by APPCB was also held at Kotipam for the plant on December 4, 2009, which was opposed by majority of locals, fearing destruction to environment, ecology and loss of valuable agriculture lands. Several attempts by promoters of thermal plant to lay foundation stone were also resisted by locals.

On June 20, 2012, locals clashed with the plant staff when they tried to fence the area that was allotted to them by the government.

Mr Deo too wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy in May this year, strongly opposing the thermal plant, stating that the proposed plant will lead to destruction of large tracts of cultivable and horticultural lands, besides causing damage to natural barriers.

“If licenses were issued for project which is detrimental for farmers of the region, such licenses can always be withdrawn,” he said in his letter to the CM, and also questioned why such licenses were issued in such a hush-hush and secret manner.

Mr Deo also criticised minister for forests Mr Satrucharla Vijaya Rama Raju for going public, saying that the plant would come up as licenses were already issued.

“We are hopeful that Mr Deo will not allow the plant to come up here against the interests of locals. There is unanimity among us on opposing the plant. None of us are for the plant. Everyone is opposing it. Now, that the Union minister revo-ked bauxite mining licenses, we are hopeful he wou-ld strongly fight against the plant,” said Kotipam The-rmal Power Plant Vyathir-eka Porata Samiti convenor Mr V Srinu Naidu, while speaking to this correspondent. The proposed plant comes under Mr Deo’s Araku Parliamen-tary segment.