Press Releases Archive

The Lok Satta Party today demanded that the Government categorically declare the thermal power project proposed at Sompet in Srikakulam district stands cancelled. “The Government’s silence on the fate of the project even after the Environmental Appraisal Committee has withdrawn all its clearances is intriguing.”

The party also demanded that the Government withdraw all the cases against agitators against the thermal plant and go to the assistance of the injured in police firing.

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan put forth the demands when a party’s fact-finding committee on the Sompet project submitted its final report to him at the party headquarters today.

The committee, headed by Mr. Bhisetty Babji (State party Vice President), comprised Prof D. Vishnu Murthy (State party Secretary), Mr. K. Poli Naidu (Srikakulam district President) and Mr. Tammineni Annam Naidu (member, party Legal Cell).

Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma released the committee’s findings to the media.

The committee found Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) guilty of initiating work on the project even as cases concerning the site were pending in local courts, the High Court, and the tribunal. NCC sought environmental clearance for the project in August 2008 itself while the Government handed over the site to it in May-June 2009. It sought environmental clearance concealing the fact that there is a water body in the proposed site. The Environmental Appraisal Committee too gave its clearance without verifying ground realities.

As local people opposed initiation of work at the site by the construction firm on July 14, 2010, the company-hired anti-social elements brutally assaulted them. Even the police opened fire on agitators without using rubber bullets to disperse them.

Dr. JP suggested that the Land Acquisition Act be amended and an autonomous institution constituted to ensure justice to all stakeholders in land acquisition for projects.

The Lok Satta Party is engaged in working out a rational power sector policy for Andhra Pradesh in the context of the State Government opting for indiscriminate establishment of power plants and the Opposition blindly opposing every project.

Disclosing this at a media conference, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan quoted Government plans to promote thermal power plants of a total 46,000 mw capacity whereas the State would need a mere 10,000 -15,000 mw of additional power. Encouragement of thermal power generation on such a massive scale would harm the State. In contrast, the Opposition parties’ objection to all thermal power projects held out the threat of the State being plunged into darkness.

Dr. JP said that the Foundation for Democratic Reforms would soon constitute a committee of national experts to hammer out an electricity policy that would safeguard the interests of both the State and the people. The committee would decide what sort of power plants should be set up to meet the State’s requirement of 10,000 mw- 15,000 mw. The plants should not harm either croplands or the environment. The policy should provide for multi-pronged compensation to families displaced by power plants.

Dr. JP said that four experts had already given their consent to be on the proposed committee.

Dr. JP addressed the media after taking part in the party’s State Working Committee meeting at the party headquarters.

Dr. JP said that the State is in the grip of political instability, uncertainty, and crisis. The Government does not seem to know what is good for people, leave alone fulfilling their needs. The Allahabad High Court verdict on the Babri Masjid land title on September 24, the ongoing revolt against rulers in Kashmir and the Srikrishna Committee’s report on the demands for and against State’s bifurcation would accentuate the critical situation the nation and the State are facing. As a responsible party committed to pursuing ethical politics, the Lok Satta is discussing how it should provide a lead to people in the developing context.

Dr. JP said that against the backdrop of corruption getting deeply entrenched in the country, the Lok Satta Party transcending party lines would agitate for the establishment of an autonomous anti corruption mechanism.

Mr. D. V. V. S. Varma, party Working President, said the Working Committee was discussing resolutions to be introduced in the annual General Council meeting next month. The party will undertake programs roping in farmers, the youth and the poor in 50 municipalities and 35 Assembly constituencies.