The Human Rights Forum (HRF) strongly condemns the attack by police on Dr Vijay Kumar of the Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV) during a public hearing on Monday for a proposed 350 MW thermal plant of VSF Energy Projects Pvt Ltd at Ankulapaturu village in Chillakuru mandal of Nellore district. Dr Kumar was speaking out against the negative environmental impacts of the project when he was beaten up.
What is particularly worrisome is that apart from the local police, reports suggest that police personnel in plainclothes also assaulted Dr Kumar. The Joint Collector Mr Saurabh Gaur who was present reportedly did nothing to stop this assault which was preceded by a tussle between those supporting and opposing the project. In fact, Dr Kumar had intervened to pacify both sides when he was set upon by the police.
It would be pertinent to remember that the proposed project is part of a rash of coal-based thermal projects that are being sought to be established in the Chillakur and Muthukur mandals of Nellore district. About 22 projects are to come up in a distance of a mere 25 km by the coast with a combined capacity of over 30,000 MW. The government, instead of halting this process, is busy trying to facilitate it. Consequently, there is an environmental disaster waiting to happen on the Nellore coast.
VS Krishna
HRF State general secretary
03.10.2011
Visakhapatnam