Yet another setback for NCC power plant

NCC Power Projects Limited (NCCPPL), a subsidiary of Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC), received another setback on Thursday with the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) cancelling the environmental clearance given to its proposed power plant in Srikakulam district.

NCC stated that it would decide the further course of action on receipt of the certified copies of the judgement from the authority.

NCCPPL is developing a 1,320-Mw coal based power plant at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore in Sompeta area. For this, it has acquired 573 acres of land on its own while the state government has allotted another 972 acres.

The project is already facing stiff resistance from the villagers. On Wednesday the protest by villagers took an ugly turn when two people were killed in police firing at the site.

The plant had received environment clearance from the Centre on the ground that it was being set up on waste land. However, Samata and a few other NGOs filed a case with the authority stating that it was not waste but wetlands.

Acting on the complaint, NEAA member JC Kala and wetland expert Dr Koul had visited the site last month. NEAA issued orders scrapping environmental clearance today.

Meanwhile, chief minister, K Rosaiah, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the family members of the deceased in the police firing. The government would also consider providing a job to one of the members of the two families.