MP's Maheshwar project faces agitation today

The lender-controlled controversial 400 Mw-Maheshwar Power project will face another protest from Naramada Bachao Andolan tomorrow.

Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Ltd (SMHPCL) has announced the financial closure for the project. The Rs 2,450 crore project, a run-off-the-river (Narmada) Scheme, is situated near Mandleshwar town.

"We are going to organise a huge Jan Chetna and Chetawani Rally (public awareness and warning) at Mandleshwar (near Maheshwar) town on November 7. Representatives of Man, Veda, Indira Sagar, Sardar Sarovar, Omkareshwar and Bargi dams and members of people's organisations all over the country will be present at this rally to express their solidarity with thousands of people affected by the Maheshwar Project," an NBA activist told Business Standard on the telephone from Mandleshwar.

"The Andolan is of the view that the amount of electricity to be generated by this Project is very low and prohibitively expensive, and that the damaging power purchase agreement of this Project will destroy the economy of Madhya Pradesh" the NBA said in a statement.