(Reopens BES22)

Yesterday the villagers had staged a demonstration before the District Collector's office and urged the authorities not to permit the establishment of the plant, saying it will create several problems. The proposed 100-MW captive power plant of KPR Fertilisers is being opposed by people of 12 villages in the vicinity, apprehending pollution and damage to crops. For this, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board was conducting a public hearing on the issue today. "We are strongly opposing the setting up of thermal plant as it will create problems like pollution, damage to crops and other natural hazards," a villager said. However, the company officials claimed that the plant will be set up with modern technologies and will not create any problem of pollution or damage to crops. The company was setting up the plant as per the norms of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, they said.