Maharashtra Congress chief worries 57 sanctioned projects will leave little water for farmers in Vidarbha, writes to Gandhi.
After giving sanctions to 57 private power projects in Vidarbha region, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has now dashed off a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi requesting her to stay 27 of the projects.
MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre’s anguish is over the mindless sanction of power projects in cotton growing belt by the state authorities without taking into consideration the water crisis.
“The power projects will usurp huge water from the existing dams thus depriving the farmers their right for cultivation of cotton and other crops,” Thakre wrote in the letter.
The Congress-led state government has given permission to 57 private power projects, which have the potential to generate a total of 65,000 mega watts of electricity, in Vidarbha region alone — mostly in Chandrapur, Yeotmal and Amravati districts that are reeling under farmer suicides.
The Congress chief, who has rallied support among the party MLAs belonging to Vidarbha region, has rushed the letter as work on these 27 projects is yet to begin. The government has only signed memorandum of understanding with the 27 private players.
The objections raised in the letter are that Vidarbha already has several coal-based thermal power projects and their existence has raised the concerns over the air pollution in the region. If more coal-based power projects are allowed there, it would not only create environmental hazard, but also upset the irrigation system in the region that is already reeling under water scarcity.
Notwithstanding the alarm raised by Thakre, the Democratic Front government’s biggest worry was to overcome power deficit.
The economic survey for 2010-11 has admitted that shortage of power was one of the prime reasons for slow economic growth. The power shortage, the survey indicated, would cause a setback to industrial growth and investments in Maharashtra. Those voicing the protest wonder why the power projects, if so important, are not located in western Maharashtra, which has surplus water resources.
“The pollution level in the thermal plant region along Chandrapur belt has exceeded its level,” said a Congress MLA from Vidarbha.
“Since Vidarbha with 62 assembly seats and 10 Lok Sabha seats is a Congress domain, we cannot overlook the public outcry. If the government is so concerned, let private power players set up project in Baramati in Sharad Pawar’s western Maharashtra.”
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan himself is reviewing the matter.
Elected members from Bharatiya Janata Party representing Vidarbha region are also protesting against transforming the cotton growing region into a power hub.
“The government has never given Vidarbha its due. In spite of being the power generating centre, it is subjected to load shedding. Has the administration taken into account the water situation once so many projects are implemented?” asked BJP MLA Devedra Fadnavis.
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