The National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA) on Thursday quashed the environmental clearance given to Nagarjuna Construction Company for setting up of a thermal power plant at Sompet, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. Further course of action is expected to be decided on the receipt of the certified copy of the judgement from the authorities.
The rejection comes a day after two people protesting against the project were killed in police firing. Two persons were killed and over 60 were injured when a large group of farmers and fishermen, protesting against setting up of the power plant, clashed with police in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
The NEAA rejected the environmental clearance for the 2,640 mw thermal power project proposed to be constructed at Sompeta, 120 kilometers from Visakhapatnam. NEAA?s decision will only delay further the Rs 12,000 crore power project for which the company is planning to rope in a foreign partner for fund raising, operation and maintenance. Meanwhile, the company has announced that it has not acquired any land for the Sompeta power plant from the government and hence there was no issue of rehabilitation.
