In
early 2007 news of locating a 1000 MW coal fired thermal power plant
south-west of Mysore city in a village called Chamalapura floated around.
Approximately keeping the little village at the epicenter, land acquisition
of around 3000 acres was expected (some of which was expected to be
forest land, with claims varying from 200 to 800 acres ) The area affected
would then be within the three taluks which border in that region, namely,
H.D.Kote and bits of Hunsur and Mysore taluks. H.D.Kote is the largest
taluk in the district but also has the lowest density of population
(152 persons/ sq.km.2). The low population density has been quoted by
the Government as one of the primary reasons for choosing this site
for the power plant. No other rationale has been provided for siting
the project thus.
The project
is being operationalised using the public private partnership model.
Already a notification regarding Expression of Interest (EOI) has been
floated in February 2007 and is said to have drawn responses from thirty
companies including Reliance and Tatas. More recently, through a global
advertisement tender released on August 8, the State Power Procurement
Co-ordination Centre(SPPCC) has commenced the process for development
of thermal plants on behalf of the State owned distribution licensee,
the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL).
The region
has responded strongly to this method of decision making and several
protests have been taking place in Mysore and Bangalore. Farmers of
Chamalapura have sworn to die but not separate from their lands. The
apathy of the Government to the plight of its people has been disheartening
to say the least. No step has been taken to involve those affected in
the process of planning till date and access to information has been
abysmal. Even the Zilla
1 Census of India 2001, Government of India 2 Area vs Population Map,
Mysore District, District Statistical Office, Mysore (Data from Census
2001) Parishad of the region has passed a unanimous vote against the
upcoming TTP 3 and has demonstrated solidarity with the struggle. Read
representation to KERC
