VILLAGERS PROTEST AGAINST NOROCHCHOLAI COAL POWER PLANT

Vi l l a g e r s living in the outskirts of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant on Saturday (19) engaged in a protest against the environmental pollution created by the power plant.

Hundreds of fishermen and villagers from Narakkaliya, Illanthadiya, Panayadiya, Norochcholai, Nawakkaduwa, Poolachchenai and Alankuda participated in the protest.

Concerned villagers stated that the waste and toxic acids evaporated from the plant were currently spreading through their cultivations and the situation could be further aggravated with the establishment of South -West Monsoon condition during the next couple of days.

Fearful villager Kadiragamar Padmanathan told the Daily Mirror that the ashes released by the power plant had resulted in the decrease of the harvest.

“The Kalpitiya Peninsula

With the emissions of the power plant, our entire cultivation has been coated with ashes or coal dust. Therefore, before we put our harvest into the market, we now have to wash them, bearing an additional cost

is a golden land where any crop grows easily throughout the year. We supply beetroot to the entire country. With the emissions of the power plant, our entire cultivation has been coated with ashes or coal dust. Therefore, before we put our harvest into the market, we now have to wash them, bearing an additional cost,”he added.

Maduru Muththu Murugaiah, a resident of Nawakkaduwa said that the emissions had resulted in widespread eye diseases and breathing difficulties among theresidents.

Meanwhile, M.C. Muhudoor, a fishermen from Poolachchenai said bulk coal carriers had resulted in sea pollution.

“We cannot engage in fishing activities in the sea due to regular visits of coal carriers. This has also resulted in reducing the fish harvest. There is no authority to complain our issues to,” he said.

Speaking over the matter former Lanka Coal Company Chairman Attorney- at- Law Maithri Gunaratne said the environmental pollution of the plant triggered from year 2016 due to the importation of low quality coal to be used at the power plant.

The protesters were dispersed after State Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources & Disaster Management Palitha Range Bandara who met them promised to discuss the matter with the relevant authorities.