No rules flouted in construction of thermal plants, says Minister
The Hindu
‘They are being built with proper clearance from the Centre’
Electricity Minister V. Senthilbalaji clarified that the construction work for the Ennore and North Chennai Stage 3 Thermal Stations are being carried out after getting all the necessary permissions from the Central Environmental Agency. He denied the accusation of environmental activists that rules had been flouted for the construction of the plants. In a press release, Mr. Senthilbalaji said all the construction work was being carried out under the supervision of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Also, both power stations are being constructed as per the designs of the super critical thermal stations. The Minister also pointed out the pipelines for bringing seawater, establishment of coal conveyor belt and bridges on which the belts would function are being constructed on land owned by the State government. Regarding the issue of a road on the Buckingham Canal and Kosasthalaiyar river, he pointed out it was only a temporary road to facilitate the construction of the thermal stations, and after completion, the roads would be dismantled. While the North Chennai Stage 3 Project has been given time till January 2023, the Ennore plant’s construction will continue till December 2023, the release added.The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.