Public hearing for NTPC 4,000 MW project held amid protests

Environmental public hearing by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) on NTPC's 4,000 MW coal-fired power plant began amid protests by project-affected people at Pudimadaka, about 60 km from Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

District Collector N. Yuvaraj noted down proceedings amid heavy rain and unprecedented security. The public hearing was held at project site after a spokesman of Hyderabad-based Vimta Labs, which conducted the EIA study, gave details on pollution control measures.

This is the biggest-ever industrial investment post bifurcation in Andhra Pradesh. The NTPC is investing Rs. 26,828 crore in the project envisaged with four units each of 1,000 MW generation capacity installing supercritical technology.

Left parties opposed the project saying it would affect livelihood of fishermen and farm workers in the area due to discharge of ash contaminating groundwater and causing ocean pollution. Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretariat member Ch. Narsinga Rao alleged that the EIA report had failed to specify the rehabilitation plan and environmental risks involved in the project.

Rain notwithstanding, around 1,000 people from neighborhood turned up at the public hearing. Police allowed people after thorough frisking.

“We are following advanced high efficiency supercritical technologies with an investment of Rs.26,828 crore propelling growth in service sector and other areas in the region in a big way,” NTPC Group General Manager and in-charge of Pudimadaka Project P.S. Radhakrishnan told The Hindu on Tuesday.

Stating that they were tying up with IGIAT for training about 400 local youth on skill development in two to three years, Mr. Radhakrishnan said that they would give preference to locals in direct and indirect jobs. He did not elaborate figures on jobs to be created saying that exact requirement would be known only after finalisation of tenders for boilers, main plant equipment and other facilities.

The company has already handed over Rs.1.69 crore to the district administration for community works. “We have big plans for development of neighbourhood. There will be big boost to economic activity in the area as about Rs.6,500 crore will be spent on project execution,” he stated.

It has been given ultra mega project status by the State and Central Governments. Entire requirement of coal – 13.7 million tonne per annum will be sourced from abroad. It will use seawater for cooling the turbines and release it after use ensuring that it will not cause any harm to marine species, the NTPC officials say. There is provision to set up a desalination plant to meet sweet water requirement for which design and investment is yet to be finalised.