Andhra Pradesh High Court today granted an interim stay on a Government order allotting land to city-based NCC Power Projects Ltd (NCCPPL), a subsidiary of Nagarjuna Construction Co. Ltd (NCC Limited), at Sompeta in Srikakulam district.
Justice Nuti Ramamohan Rao while staying the GO, issued in September 2008, ordered that no work be carried out at the project site.
Three persons were killed in police firing when a large group of farmers and fishermen, protested against setting up of the 2640 MW (4 x 660 MW) thermal power project by NCC in July last year.
The company had acquired 972 acres of land allotted by the Andhra Pradesh government and 573 acres of land purchased from private owners specifically for the purpose of setting up of the thermal power plant at Sompeta.
Some farmers who lost their land to the power project had approached the High Court to get the Government Order quashed, petitioner’s counsel K S Murthy said.
“The Hon. High Court issued notices to all the parties concerned including the State government and Nagarjuna Group and asked them to file their replies within six weeks,” he said.
A few days after the firing incident took place, the National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA) had rejected environmental clearance for the thermal power project.
A senior official of the company had recently said that they may pursue the Sompeta Power Project after 2012.
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