Cogentrix: at all costs
The multicrore 1,000 MW Cogentrix the power project in Nandikur village air Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka. In the ecologically fragile Western Ghats - has been a centre of environmental brouhaha. Spearheading the agitation against it is the Dakshina Kannada Parisarasaktha Okkuta (Dakshina Kannada Environmental Federation). The movement has also got the unstinted support Of tbir, former secretary to the ministry of environment in Karnataka, Vellappa Reddy.
Reddy says that Cogentrix, authorities have dellberafely underestimated the extent of flyash discharge and disposal (Down To Earth, Vol 4, No 13). The release of go tonnes of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere causing acid rains and possibilities of water shortage (the government plans to sell 77 million cu m of water to Cogentrix every day from the Mulki river) give additional causes for concern. Fisherfolk are worried as release of effluents into the river would affect the fish.
The Deve Gowda ministry is hell bent an going ahead with Cogentrix. Deve Gowda has dismissed Reddy as a publicity seeking 'pofitki&n:nd the opposition of the local people to the project as being. instigated by "anti-development" environmentalists.