OPG power plant opposed

Fishermen, agariyas as well as farmers fear loss of livelihood

Paras K Jha. Ahmedabad

Fishermen and saltpan workers of Kutch opposed the OPG power plant, planed to
be constructed at Bhadreshwar village in Mundra taluka, at the public hearing for
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) clearance held in the village on Friday.
Villagers from Bhadreshwar, Sangad, Wandi, Luni, Hatdi, Pavdiara and other
villages, likely to be affected by the project, were present in the meeting. Among
officers, Gujarat Pollution Control Board regional officer JD Kalyani and additional
collector, Kutch, Gunvant Vaghela, OPG project director Padmanabhan and other
company officials were present.

Talking about the public hearing, Aamad Iliyas Manjaliya, a local leader of fishermen,
said, "We represented that more than 10,000 people, including fishermen, agariyas
and farmers will lose their source of income and become unemployed if this project
is set up. We cannot tolerate this."

Mahesh Pandya, a member of NGO Paryavaran Mitra said, "We asked several
questions about the EIA report of OPG power plant, as the report has not shown
habitations of nearly 6000 fishermen in the area where the power plant is proposed
to be set up. Moreover, the report is silent about many other serious issues, like the
impact on marine ecology."

It was stated at the hearing that there are nearly 5,000 acres of salt pans in the area,
which will face closure if the power plant is set up. With marine life being hit,
fishermen will also face a serious threat to their livelihoold. Panchayats of 11 villages
submitted letters opposing the OPG project. It was also represented that the power
plant be set up in Small Rann of Kutch or on other barren land.

Gunvant Vaghela, additional collector, Kutch said, "Local residents have been heard
by the company officials and GPCB representatives and they have also given their
replies to the people. We will include every representation in the minutes of the
meeting and will send it to the government."
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