Ankulapatur power station
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Ankulapatur power station is a cancelled power station in Ankulapatur, Chillakur, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Ankulapatur power station | Ankulapatur, Chillakur, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India | 14.138344, 79.990881 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Phase 1, Phase 2: 14.138344, 79.990881
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 350 | supercritical | – | – |
| Phase 2 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 135 | supercritical | – | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 | VSF Projects [100.0%] |
| Phase 2 | VSF Projects [100.0%] |
Background
The project is proposed by VSF Projects. Phase 1 is a 350 megawatt (MW) coal plant, which the company says has received a terms of reference toward an environmental permit. The company is also planning second phase of 135 MW.[1]
As of 2014 there is no environmental permit for the project on the India MoEF website, and the project may have been cancelled.
Citizen opposition
October 2011: Protesters injured during public hearing
On Oct. 3, 2011, hundreds of villagers led by Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV) and its affiliated unions protested an environmental public hearing by the Pollution Control Board (PCB) regarding the 350 MW Ankulapatur power station phase 1 at Ankulapaturu village in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district.
The public hearing was for land acquisition for the power project. Disagreement broke out between those in attendance, and protesters say they were then attacked and beaten by police, with several protestors suffering injuries. The Joint Collector Saurabh Gaur walked away without giving any orders either to the police to withdraw nor giving any declaration regarding the status of the public hearing.
The proposed plant, sponsored by VSF Projects, will use 1,200 acres near Ankulapaturu village of Chillakur mandal in Gudur division in the district. Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC) district secretary Ellanki Venkateswarlu said locals in Ankulapaturu and the neighbouring villages were opposing the plant, as existing power projects in the area are already creating health hazards.[2]
At the hearing, project opponent Vijayakumar, was beaten by police. Vijayakumar is a doctor and an activist with Jana Vigyana Vedika a people's science organisation. An charge of attempted murder was registered against inspector Ram Babu under section 307 of the IPC. Opponents of the plant charged that the environmental impact assessment prepared by the company suppressed the impacts of the plant on the ten surrounding villages, which are mostly inhabited by landless Scheduled Tribe (ST) or small farmers belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC), and that the plant will be located in the middle of a wetland surrounded by shrimp farms. According to one local leader, about 700 people waled seven to eight kilometres to participate in the hearing after their tractors were blocked by police. At the hearing, sponsored by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, participation was limited to 20-30 people who allegedly were hired by the company to speak. After Vijayakumar asked those opposing the project to raise their hands, police began lathicharging, and Vijayakumar was allegedly strangled by company goons before being rescued by supporters.[3]
According to Environmental Justice Atlas, the site of the plant is located in a wetland surrounded by shrimp farms. "Close to the site is a large tank spread over about 810 hectares. Residents depend on this tank for their water needs. It provides means of living to many fisher families. Further, there are reserve forests and protected forests within 10 km radius of the site. There has been strong public resistance against coal-based thermal power plants coming up as a cluster in a small area. The place is unique because nowhere in the country there is such a concentration of thermal power projects, and resultant impact on environment is causing concern among the public ... Villagers were already suffering with many existing projects in the area which are creating health hazards by violating the Pollution Control Board (PCB) norms."[4]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Thermal Power," VSF projects, accessed August 2014.
- ↑ "Public hearing on power plant stalled" The Hindu, Oct. 4, 2011.
- ↑ M Suchitra, "Public hearing for thermal power plant in Andhra Pradesh turns violent," DownToEarth.org, October 10, 2011
- ↑ "Ankulapatur power station, AP, India" Environmental Justice Atlas, accessed April 2, 2014.
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
