Way for setting up 1600 MW thermal power plant by Adani Power in Godda was cleared with completion of public hearing, a perquisite ahead of getting environmental clearance, on Sunday. The power major on the occasion assured the people, who were present in large number, of adhering to all set norms related to air, ground water and plantation.
Though the public hearing organised also saw some disturbance in the end but the district administration and Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) representatives declared it proper and complete. “The public hearing at Motia of Godda is over peacefully. But while the people were going back after the meeting at noon, a small incident of stone pelting by some miscreants took place in which DSP Headquarter got minor injury. Entire area is peaceful now,” said Godda SP Harilal Chauhan.
Entire proceeding of the hearing taken place has been video recorded which would now be presented before the Ministry of Environment and Forest along with reports from the JSPCB for acquiring the green nod. Company representatives present on the spot made it clear that all the apprehensions expressed by certain group of people were baseless.
“We were asked by the villagers present there about supply of water and meeting air pollution standards. They have been claiming that Chir River from where water is to be sourced to run the plant does not have sufficient supply. We told the villagers and officials that we would build a huge reservoir which would be filled through a 15 kms long pipeline in rainy season. There is no question of extracting any ground water. Also, we are installing best pollution control mechanisms over there which are of international standards. All the participants were satisfied with our replies,” said Amritanshu Prasad, Head of Corporate Affairs.
The company in order to douse the opposition maintained that height of the chimney has been kept at 275 meters and the technology in place is meant to use water and coal at its minimum. “Oxygen and sulpher contents would be tapped and recycled. The company is using latest available technology here,” said Manish Singh of Adani Power at Godda, adding that sufficient green belts and water recharge pits would be in place.
On the other, JVM’s Poraiahaat MlA Padeep Yadav claimed that the public hearing was the handiwork of district administration and company people. “Consents of actual villagers affected by the power plant were not taken. It has been conducted fraudulently. This agitated the locals who pelted stones and disrupted the proceeding. The police used batten for disperse the crowd,” said Yadav after the hearing attended by about 4000 villagers.
The MlA has been opposing the move and had approached the JSPCB for cancelling the meeting scheduled for March 5. Based on his complaint a fresh public notice was published in local newspapers without extending the date.
When asked about the claims, Amritanshu Prasad rubbished it, saying that the handful of MlA’s supporters threw chairs out of desperation when everything got completed and people were returning to their homes. “Even local MlA from Godda Amit Mandal was present and took part in the peaceful public hearing,” said he.
Mandal later backed the plant saying that it would generate employment for local youths and bring prosperity into the area. Besides the MlA, Deputy Development Commissioner Dilip Jha, Additional Collector Anil Tirkey along with the SP and officials of JSPCB took part in the proceeding.