Bouquets, brickbats for proposed thermal project

By Express News Service

04 May 2011 02:22:30 AM IST

Bouquets, brickbats for proposed thermal project

THOOTHUKUDI: Public hearing on the proposed phase II coal-based (2X800 MW) Thermal power project by Coastal Energen Private Limited held at the Collectorate here on Tuesday evoked mixed response.

Just as Thermal power project Phase I (2X600 MW) is under construction at Melamarudur, Ottapidaram taluk in Thoothukudi district, Coastal Energen Private Limited has proposed to set up phase II, super critical technology based, coal fired thermal power project in the existing land.

Udal Uzhaipor Thozhilalar Sangam district secretary Krishnamoorthy criticised the district administration for conducting the public hearing, though the model code of conduct was in force. The meeting was convened in a short time without prior notice on newspapers.

DRO Durai Ravichandran, who presided over the meeting, in his reply said that necessary approval had been obtained from the EC and the public hearing was intimated through Daily Thanthi and The New Indian Express well in advance on April 3.

TUDSIA President Jayarayen welcoming the project pointed the Supreme Court’s direction to supply 20 per cent fly ash to small-scale units like those involved in fly ash brick manufacturing. Subsequently, the company should give 50 per cent fly ash to these industries. Moreover he expressed his regret on many thermal power projects that still remained on paper.

Industrial units like Sterlite, TTPS and Coastal Energen TPP are located within a radius of 20 km of the city, public hearing should take into consideration its impact on nature. Instead conducting separate hearing for individual units and analysing the pros and cons would not be appropriate, added CPM district secretary K Kanaga raj.He listed that TN’s ’s power production was about 8,000 MW and 2,970 MW was generated by coal-based power plants. With the establishment of the new project, Thoothukudi alone would possess 5,050 MW power plants.

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