Udupi: Thermal power plant at Yellur damaged health of locals for years

Team Udayavani, Mar 8, 2021, 11:57 AM IST

Udupi: The Udupi Power Corporation Limited thermal power plant at Yellur near here has been the cause of various health problems of villagers nearby the plant for years says a report by a committee of experts constituted by the National Green Tribunal.

The committee was set up in 2019 by the Tribunal to look into mitigation measures for those affected by the plant.

The plant, started in 2010 and acquired by Adani Group in 2015, was reported to the Tribunal by the Janajagrati Samiti.

The committee in its study found that cases of asthma, respiratory infections, and cancer increased manifold in people residing near the plant between 2012 and 2020.

For sake of calculating compensation to be paid to the affected the committee divided the villages according to the proximity from the plant and prevalence of diseases among the villagers.

Based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle under Section 20 of the NGT Act, the committee estimated that the total cost of the illness caused by the plant was Rs 70.04 crore.

In its study, the committee has recommended that a large and detailed study of the plant’s impact on the eco-systems including agriculture and fisheries must be done.