Nagarjuna meet ends in confusion

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : The meeting convened at the Manipal Engineering college recently to discuss the pros and cons of the proposed Nagarjuna thermal power project, ended amid confusion without arriving at any definite decision.
The Nagarjuna officials who had attended the meeting, utterly failed in clearing the doubts in the minds of the public regarding the proposed project.
The Udupi MP Manorama Madhwaraj, thundered in the meeting that the project would not be allowed under any circumstance. She also demanded a study on the carrying capacity of the district and demanded that any project should be undertaken only after taking the people into confidence.
When the Nagarjuna officer KN Balachandra claimed that the company had convened as many as 250 meetings in rural areas, Lakshman Shetty, president of the Jana Jagrithi Vedike alleged that he was lying in the presence of the Pejawar Swamiji himself.
The Kaup legislator Lalaji Mendon reiterated his opposition to the project questioning what the company which had assured 300 jobs to locals had to say about the 3 lakh fishermen who are liklely to be affected by the project.
Scribes who were initially barred entry into the meeting, later were allowed after the anti-Nagarjuna Samithi said it would not attend the meeting until scribes are allowed
The DC Ponnuraju who later allowed the scribes in however put forth a condition that the scribes can attend, but should neither report nor publish any photograph.
Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt was among others who attended the meeting.