Shutdown in Andhra town against power plant

Hyderabad: Protests broke out again in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district against an upcoming thermal electricity project, police said.

People in Sompeta town of the district in north coastal Andhra Monday observed a shutdown demanding that the government stop work on the project which, they claimed, threatens the ecology and endangers the livelihood of local communities.

Shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the shutdown call given by the Environment Protection Committee, a group of environmentalists and NGOs.

Protestors, including fishermen and farmers, likely to be affected by the project, staged road and rail blockades.

Police arrested dozens of protestors when they tried to stop the convoy of Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao as the latter was visiting Ichapuram.

The arrested include opposition Telugu Desam Party's legislator Sai Raju's father Raja Rao.

Some activists alleged that the minister was instrumental in approving the plant work.

Raising slogans against the project, the protestors also squatted on the railway tracks, bringing rail traffic to a halt.

The Environment Protection Committee is also demanding compensation to the families of those killed in police firing during the protests in July last year.

Two people were killed and several others were injured July 14 when police opened fire at people protesting against the project by Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) at Sompeta.

The National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA) later overruled the environmental clearance given for the 2,640-MW project coming up at a cost of Rs.12,000 crore. Locals claim that the work had resumed on the project.

Meanwhile, a group of ruling Congress leaders Monday began a visit to north coastal Andhra region to inspect thermal power project sites, special economic zones, mines and ports amid allegations that irregularities were committed in approving the projects.

Member of Parliament V. Hanumantha Rao, who is leading the group, said they would urge the government to cancel the Sompeta project as it would harm the interests of farmers and fishermen.

 

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

India commissions study on black money

The Indian government said Sunday it had commissioned a study to examine how black money is generated and recommend ways to   »

India to set up new agency to trace black money: Pranab

Why hide names of foreign account holders, asks apex court

No request from India for secret bank data: Swiss Ambassador

  Most Read

WHO urges countries to tackle tobacco epidemic

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Monday urged countries to commit necessary resources to tackle the epidemic of tobacco use, which kills nearly six million people globally every year. »

Plan panel meeting on eastern region begins in Patna

A Planning Commission meeting for eastern region to discuss the approach paper for the next five-year plan began in the Bihar capital Monday, officials said. "The meeting will discuss the approach paper related to 12th Five Year Plan," Vijay Prakash, principal secretary for planning  »

  News Pick

Nepalese PM agrees to quit, crisis averts by hair's breadth

After holding an anxious nation hostage for over a day, Nepal's beleaguered Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal finally agreed Sunday to step down in exchange for the three major parties signing a deal to extend the  »

Gaddafi sets terms for relinquishing power

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is ready to relinquish power on the condition that he and his family would not be prosecuted, Arab newspaper Al Sharq Al Awsat reported Sunday. Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam is heading   »

'Mamata' on Urdu, Madrasa Aliah

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on May 26 said that the Urdu language would be given second-language status in districts with a 10 per cent or more Urdu-speaking population. She also declared the restoration of the word “Madrasa” to the   »

NATO airstrike in Afghanistan kills 12 kids

At least 12 children, some under two years, and two women have been killed in a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan, Sky News reported. The incident took place in Nawzad district in Helmand province late Saturday.   »

IGNOU student ranks seventh in UPSC exams

A 21-year-old post graduate student of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has secured the seventh rank in the Civil Services 2010 examination  »

Picture of the Day

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the Joint Session of Ethiopian Parliament, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 26, 2011.