Former Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral (Retired) L. Ramdas on Saturday asked the government to concentrate on renewable energy and stop all thermal and nuclear power projects which were posing major threat to environment.
Speaking at a public meeting organised at Baruva to mark three years of agitation against thermal power project at Sompeta, he said renewable energy was the only option to meet the electricity requirements and people would no longer accept thermal power projects. He lauded the movement launched by Paryavarana Parirakshana Sangham (PPS) while asking the people to oppose all such projects which would destroy the ecology.
Admiral Ramdas has also found fault with the policies of the political parties. Stating that the parties were colluding on key issues such as Foreign Direct Investment, he said a firm stand could not be expected from them on thermal power.
Anti-nuclear and thermal power activist Lalita Ramdas strongly criticised the government’s energy policies.
PPS leaders Y. Krishna Murthy, Beena Dhelli Rao demanded that the government should cancel the land lease agreements with Nagarjuna Construction Company.
Former Minister Tammineni Seetaram, Left party leaders Ch. Sundarlal, Chowdary Tejeswara Rao, Women Rights activist Sandhya, Professor D. Vishnumurthy and others vowed to fight against Sompeta and Kakarapalli projects.
Earlier, they went to Vadditandra and extended their solidarity to Kakarapalli Thermal Vyatireka Porata Samiti. Admiral Ramdas alleged that the government had sanctioned permission to East Coast Energy Private Limited based on faulty reports of the district administration.
