Andhra Pradesh
,
Pudimadaka
,
Visakhapatnam
Published :
Jul 2020
|
Updated :
Opposition Mars NTPC Thermal Plant in Vishakhapatnam in AP, Centre Shelves Project
Reported by
Furkan Khan
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
People affected
2015
Year started
486
ha.
Land area affected
Households affected
People Affected
2015
Year started
486
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Thermal Power Plant
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Thermal Power Plant
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation allotted around 1,200 acres in Pudimadaka village in Visakhapatnam district for the construction of the Pudimadaka Super Thermal Power Project by NTPC Ltd. The project was proposed in 2014, with an investment of INR 26,828 crore. Locals, including fishermen, have opposed the thermal plant as pollutants from the plant pose a health risk to the residents, the environment and marine life in the area. In 2016, following public protests, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board issued a notification to hold a public hearing in August that year. The Human Rights forum [demanded](http://The Human Rights forum demanded that the public hearing be stopped and the project be scrapped. The state General Secretary V.S. Krishna and district president M. Sarat said that the NTPC had already established a 2,000mega watt plant (NTPC Simhadri) in the area it was contemplating to enhance it by an additional 1,000 mega watts more.) that the public hearing should be stopped and the project should be scrapped. In a press release by the Human Rights Forum, state General Secretary V.S. Krishna and District President M. Sarat said that "the NTPC had already established a 2,000mega watt plant (NTPC Simhadri) in the area and was contemplating to enhance it by an additional 1,000 mega watt". The Pudimadaka plant would have a capacity of 4,000 mega watt, consuming more than 13 million tonnes of coal per annum. The people living in the area consider it to be a huge strain on the region's natural resources. Krishna and Sarat further said in the press release that "generating 7,000 mega watt of thermal power in one area is a sure recipe for human and ecological disaster." In 2018, the project was shelved at the direction of the Centre. The minister of state for Power and New and Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh, said in response to a Parliament query that "the status of the project depends on the sanction of requisite clearances and coal linkage and date of award of the programme".

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Refusal to give up land for the project

Opposition against environmental degradation

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Private

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

26828

Type of investment:

Investment Made

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

Yes

When did it end?

June 20, 2018

Why did the conflict end?

The Centre ordered for the project to be shelved saying it was no longer viable.

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

NTPC Limited

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Local communities

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
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Furkan Khan
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Refusal to give up land for the project

Opposition against environmental degradation

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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