Local fishermen on Saturday began a relay fast protesting against setting up of a private thermal station at Tharangampadi in Nagapattinam district.
Officials said the fishermen had begun their agitation even as the company had started the works.
The fishermen claimed that their livelihood would be affected if the plant was set up, and started power generation.
Farmers also feared their fields would be affected.
This news article gives no clue as to how and why setting up a thermal
power plant will impact fishing and agriculture in the region. Cooling
towers are generally used to take care of any heated water, so it is
not discharged in to the ocean, which can adversely effect fishing
catches in inshore waters. Depending on the fuel that wil power the
plant (Coal?) some concerns may be valid, relating to air and soil
pollution, but mitigation technology is well established. It does seem
that there is a political element of exploitation of the fears of
farmers and fishermen, as groundless as they are. An informational
meeting with concerned sections of the population should settle any
such apprehensions as may exist. If every developement proposal
especially relating to power plants and similar industrial enterpriese
is going to meet with protests including "relay fasts" (an Olympic
event for Rio?), no progress will ever be made to meet the power and
job needs of the people of the districts.
First Atomic Power plant - now Thermal Power plant. I remember that many farmers were against Wind Power. Later they may oppose Solar power also. This way Tamil Nadu will soon go back to stone age. Vested interest and selfish groups like this will continue to hold this state back unless the State Government handles such appraisals strictly - they can try educating and communicating with them as well. Finally compensate them - may be this will work
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