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Journalism of Courage
The Environment Ministry has ordered the suspension of work at a 2640-MW thermal power project in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh,a day after clashes between protesting local population and the police resulted in the killing of two persons.
The ministry said it had received several representations complaining that the East Coast Energy Pvt Ltd,the company that was executing the project,had been violating the conditions stipulated in the environmental clearance granted to it. There were also complaints that the project was coming up on wetlands which is not allowed.
The ministry said its Expert Appraisal Committee was already seized of the complaints and was about to give its recommendations after a meeting next week. It ordered the company to suspend work till the recommendations of the committee were submitted.
Meanwhile,it also asked the company to submit a report by March 6,giving the details of how the project is complying with the conditions mentioned in the environmental clearance.
The decision comes a day after two persons were killed and five injured in police firing after locals came out in protest against the project. The matter was raised in Parliament on Tuesday after which Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh assured the Rajya Sabha that he would act in the matter.
