BANGALORE: The State Cabinet on Thursday approved the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-aided North Karnataka Urban Sector Project for providing infrastructure in 25 urban local bodies.

The Rs. 1,800-crore project, in which the ADB and the State Government have a 60 per cent and 40 per cent stake respectively, includes water supply systems, sewerage systems, drainage, solid waste collection and disposal facilities, urban road resurfacing and junction improvements. It is expected to be completed by 2012, Law Minister Basavaraj Horatti told presspersons after the Cabinet meeting. Chamarajanagar district is the solitary district in the southern part of the State to be included in the project.

The objectives of the programme are to accelerate economic growth in the backward districts of North Karnataka and reduce regional imbalances within the State through efficient and equitable provision of basic urban infrastructure and services.

Thermal project

The Cabinet decided to proceed cautiously on the proposed 4,500 MW thermal power project at Tadari in the Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district. The Government will seek the views of environmentalists, the local fishing community, elected representatives and other interest groups, as there have been protests from several quarters and misgivings about the project's impact on the environment.

`Minimal impact'

Mr. Horatti said the Government had decided to go ahead with it as its impact would be minimal. About 3,000 acres of land was required of which the Government had 1,100 acres.

The Government seems to be apprehensive about pushing the project through without taking the people along, since people's movements in the two coastal districts have blocked a couple of projects, the Cogentrix project at Nandikur being the most controversial one.

The Tadari project has generated much indignation in many quarters in the past few weeks. Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati of Sri Ramachandrapur Math threatened to go on an indefinite fast if the project was taken up.

The heads of several religious institutions such as Visvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math and Gangadharendra Saraswathi Swamiji of Swarnavalli Math have expressed their support to the fight against the project. An action committee has been formed to spearhead the agitation.

The Aghanashini river joins the sea at Tadari after passing through environmentally sensitive areas. The Aghanashini is considered a lifeline while Tadari is included as an ecologically sensitive place in the Karnataka Environment Report, 2003. An estimated 15,000 fishermen's families will be affected by the project.

The Energy Department has invited tenders from private agencies to take up the project, and it has floated Coastal Karnataka Power Ltd. to oversee the implementation of the project, which also envisages the construction of a new port for unloading coal.

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