MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said the Union government is being unnecessarily blamed for thermal power project at Niddodi, 30 km away from Mangalore.
Mr. Kateel was reacting to State Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s statement on Sunday here that the Union government was keen on ultra mega thermal power project at Niddodi.
The MP said on Tuesday that the Centre wanted a thermal power project in the State, noting, “They want the plant to come up on non-agricultural lands and not on the fertile lands in Niddodi.” He said, “It is not the Centre but Mr. Shivakumar who is keen on setting up the thermal power plant in Niddodi.”
Mr. Shivakumar told reporters on Sunday that the State government would go ahead with the project if the villagers cooperated.
He also said the plant could be set up by giving some incentives those who give their lands.
The Matrubhoomi Samrakshana Samiti, which is spearheading the agitation of the villagers against the project, has expressed its displeasure over Mr. Shivakumar’s statement. On the likelihood of the closure of Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers (MCF) unit in Panambur, Mr. Kateel said the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers H.N. Ananthkumar told Finance Minster Arun Jaitley about problems for employees and other persons reliant on this unit.
“The government will provide subsidy for three more months for production of urea using naphtha. I have asked the government to continue subsidy till the unit gets supply of liquefied natural gas (for which the Union government has decided to give subsidy),” he said.