The protest of people of 19 villages under Lakhanpur block in Jharsuguda district against proposed 4000-mw super thermal power plant by NTPC and JSW in Chhattisgarh border continued on Monday.
At a public meeting near Kanaktura Chowk, former State BJP president Suresh Pujari demanded the Government to stop the project immediately failing which Polavaram like situation may crop up in Lakhanpur block.
These two plants will be set up in Chhattisgarh covering 19 villages. The process of land acquisition in Kukura village of Raigarh district in neighbouring State adjacent to Lakhanpur block in Jharsuguda district has already been started.
According to sources, a Hyderabad-based company had submitted environmental assessment report to Chhattisgarh Government on November 4, 2009.
The sources said the plan is to draw water from Hirakud dam reservoir and river Mahanadi. If the project is implemented, Mahanadi water will be entirely used in Chhattisgarh.
Though the project was planned to cover Kukura, Nawapara, Dumarpali, Chuepaliand and Salhona villages of Raigarh district, it is likely to affect a region of 10 km in Odisha covering Atabira, Palsada, Machida, Jamgaon, Katarbaga, Bhikhampali panchayats under Hemgiri block in Sundargarh district.
On August 7, 2010, Raigarh district administration and JSW had conducted a public hearing in Kukura village. The district administration has so far stayed mum on the issue.
Jharsuguda ADM BB Behra said, “I have discussed the issue with Collector Guha Poonam Kumar since it is an inter-state matter. A report has also been sent to the State Government. We are awaiting instructions from the higher authorities for further action.”