By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 28, 2012: A glaring example of pressure
from the powers that be – nearly 60 percent construction of the the proposed
coal based thermal power plant in Palavalasa near Gajuwaka has been completed, without
a No Objection Certificate (NOC), for the work from the Greater Visakhapatnam
Municipal Corporation (GVMC).
The power plant is being set up by the Hindujas with at least
3,000 workers working daily on at the site.
The Hinduja National Power Corporation Limited (HNPCL) was
allotted 1,123 acres land in Dewada and Palavalasa villages near Gajuwaka in 1999
to set up 1,084 MW coal-based thermal power plant. As per the agreement with
state government signed in 1008, the HNPCL has to complete the project within
five years, failing which the power purchase agreement would be cancelled.
But the project never took off and the Hindujas approached
the government again and revived the land lease for five more years. Since then
HNPCL has been seeking extensions and the government has been obliging it.
In March 2011, HNPCL applied for renewal of the construction,
following which the GVMC sent a demand notice of Rs 171 crore but it was
renegotiated to Rs 51 crore. However, only Rs 19 lakh was paid by the company
and the application was returned without approval.
Even as the application for the NOC remains pending with
GVMC, work by the HNPCL is in full swing to get the plant operational by September,
2013. According to the plant insiders, 60 percent of the fabrication and
erection work and 40 percent of the civil work are complete, remaining work is on
at a fast pace.
“The application from HNPCL for an NOC is still pending with
us due to various reasons. We are yet to consider their application and give a
go ahead for the construction,” GVMC Commissioner MV Satyanrayana told this
correspondent.
Another senior civic official who did not wish to be named
privately admitted that there were “instructions” from Hyderabad not to “obstruct the construction
activity”.
The proposed power project by Hindujas is already embroiled in
many controversies and came under fire by opposition for alienation of Wakf
property, delay in grounding the project, revision of power purchase agreement,
sale of Wakf land at a throwaway price and multiple extensions.
“It’s an open construction activity which everybody can see.
Irony is that basic labour rules and wage policies are not implemented by the
HNPCL authorities,” said Hinduja Project Displaced Welfare Association
president, B Dilli Rao.
Meanwhile from the “compliance report” submitted by HNPCL to
Ministry of Environment & Forests (MOEF) in April 2011, it is evident that
the company has purchased agricultural land of 330 acres around Devada village
in Paravada Mandal in the district. The said land is apparently proposed to be
used for dumping fly ash from the company's thermal power project.
Former senior bureaucrat and Forum for Better Visakha (FBV),
convenor, EAS Sarma pointed that the local Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO)
concerned should examine the application for conversion of land-use under AP Agricultural Land (Conversion for
Non-Agricultural Purposes) Act, 2006 as per the procedure now laid down by the
AP High Court in an order dated Aug, 7, 2012 in WP No. 24342/2012.
“The RDO concerned should examine the application for
conversion of land-use as per the procedure now laid down by high court and
pending such an examination, all construction should be stopped forthwith.
Revenue authorities should pass a speaking order in this regard,” said Sarma.
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