“There is no harm to ecology with thermal plants, on the contrary, the ash generated by the plant is good for the plants. The farmers are making use of the ash which has increased productivity,” says C.M. Hangadi, a farmer from Telgi village.
“Before visiting the place, I had this notion that thermal plants are hazardous to human and animal health, but now I am satisfied after visiting the plant that it has no adverse impact on any one,” said Basappa Surpur, a farmer from Golasangi village.
“One need not have a fear of thermal plants. In fact, the plant is providing employment to so many people as the ash generated is being used for manufacturing bricks, sheets and other such products,” said Mohangouda Patil, a farmer of Masuti village.
These are some of the reactions of the farmers who recently visited NTPC’s thermal plant at Dadri near New Delhi as part of the study tour.
The tour was organised by the officials of NTPC thermal plant of Kudgi here with help of the district administration to study whether NTPC thermal plants have any adverse effect on ecology.
Some 43 farmers of Basavanbagewadi taluk visited the plant and studied various aspects of it after the State government offered to allow some farmers to study any NTPC plant.
The response of these farmers has gained significance after some farmers belonging to the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha stated that the NTPC plant was hazardous to ecology.
They have been protesting against the plant, demanding the government to shift the plant anywhere else.
Speaking to The Hindu , C. Kumar, Assistant General Manager of the Kudgi plant, said that the farmers, during their visit, met local farmers who are using ash.
“During their interaction they found local farmers using the ash generated by the plant in their farms which has increased the agriculture productivity,” he said.
Mr. Kumar said that the officials of the NTPC took the farmers to every possible place in the plant and made the people meet them in order to clear all their doubts and apprehensions.
