Mangalore, Sep 28: Describing it as another project that will destroy the rich environment of the region, several members of Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) and other Christian organisations along with like-minded associations on Saturday expressed their opposition to 4,000 MW Ultra Mega Power Plant (UMPP) at Niddodi.
Nearly 300 people took out a march from St Sebastian Church, Bendoor to Deputy Commissioner's Office, with hundreds of placards that read “Save Niddodi, Save Karavali”, “Don't burn our lives with coal”, among others.
The organisation also started signature and post card campaigns, which will be sent to the Chief Minister and Union Ministers urging them to withdraw the project.
Kiran Manjanbail, Convenor of the Mathrubhoomi Samrakshana Samiti, said hoblis of Moodbidri, Mulki and Gurupura will be affected in worst possible way by the project.
“Most of the villagers there are dependent on agriculture, and if the project comes up, they will lose their livelihood,” he said adding that, “it will affect biodiversity too”, he added.
“We are not against development but we need responsible development in the rich, fertile lands of our district,” said Editor of the Konkani youth magazine Amcho Yuvak, Daryll D'Souza, adding that the government should instead focus on non-polluting, renewable sources of energy.
In their memorandum, ICYM has said that considerable damage has already been done to the district by companies like Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), chemical company BASF and 1,700 MW Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) power plant.
The protesters stressed on the damage to the sensitive forests of Western Ghats due to the polluting plant.
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