The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had issued conditional permit certificate to the Hanakona thermal power station company on June 3. It had also suggested that any objections to the same should be filed within 30 days time.
However, judge and North Karnataka District Consumers and Citizens Welfare Association president K R Desai and Hanakona Thermal Power Station Virodhi Horata Samiti president K D Naik had filed an objection to the conditional permit issued by the he Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. As per the guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the site of the thermal power station should be 25 kms away from wildlife and forests.
Also, the company instead of securing permits from the State Pollution Control Board, Gram Panchayat, and other government departments has directly secured permit from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, the objection filed stated.
However, the Hanakona thermal power station comes within the 25 kms radius of the wildlife and forests, thereby endangering the environment. The company has submitted false documents to the ministry, stated Canara Circle Forest Conservator, Dandeli Wildlife Deputy Forest Conservator and Karwar forest conservators.