CHENNAI: Public entry was restricted, environmental activists were threatened, and other politicians were booed by DMK members who occupied most of the seats at the auditorium where the public hearing for the proposed 660MW Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) expansion project was organised on Friday.
At a 300-seater wedding hall at Ernavur, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) held a public hearing – initially scheduled in 2022 – under the chairmanship of Chennai Collector Rashmi Siddharth Jagade. More than 100 DMK members, who were seated inside the auditorium, surrounded and confronted people, including residents who opposed the project.
The members raised slogans against Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Seeman, who spoke against the project. Amidst the pandemonium, he said: “We can consider this project when we are left with no other option for an energy source. But we have solar and wind power in abundance. Why is the state govt interes ted in developing a thermal plant in a place that is already polluted beyond the point of no return? Those who support the project should swap their houses with those living next to the plants.”
Some people were blocked from speaking when it was their turn. Environmentalist Nithyanand Jayaraman, who was given token No 5, was allo wed to speak only after 2 pm. “The district collector was sitting like a Buddha and she left before the meeting officially ended. Nobody was in charge to conduct the meeting. The ruling party members decided who should speak and in what order. Police too were idle bystanders,” he said.
“The ruling party MLA (K P Shankar) had the audacity to take the mike and announce that only the locals should speak and others should vacate the premises,” he said. When he spoke, he had to shout to be heard over the slogans, Jayaraman said.
N Karunakaran of Kattukuppam and Sachidanandam of Nettukuppam, who supported the project, said development comes at a cost. They demanded permanent jobs for residents in the area. Kathivakkam resident Bhagat Singh, who opposed the project, said: “People will be given jobs on a contract basis for a monthly salary of 5,000 to 10,000. But because of pollution caused by the plant, they may have to spend 15,000 a month on medical expenses.”
Activist R S Mugilan pointed out that the environmental impact assessment was not released in Tamil for local people to read and understand and accused the state govt of hiding the dangers of the project from those who will be directly affected. “If the efficiency (plant load factor) of the existing thermal plants is improved from the present 65%, there won’t be a need for the new plant,” he said.
