Mysore, July 9 (UNI) Noted Kannada Writer U R Ananthamurthy today joined protest against the proposed Thermal Power Plant at Chamalapura village near here, even as hundreds of farmers, environmentalists, youth, freedom fighters staged dharna in the city demanding the State Government to drop the project.

The dharna was organised by Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACISM) led by its convenor M Lakhsman.

Protestors holding banners--' fly ash kills life, don't drive next generation to ailments, stop Chamalapura, save Mysore and don't convert a greenery to cemetery', shouted slogans against the government's proposal.

The agitators threatened to launch dharna in front of Legislative Assembly Speaker Krishna's residence at K R Pet and in front of houses of Legislators, MPs and Ministers on July 11 if the government fails to take action to drop the proposal.

They alleged that 'Politicians are falsely assuring the farmers that a compensation of Rs 10 lakhs per acre would be paid to the farmers for land acquired.

Mr Ananth Murthy, after visiting the spot, declared that 'we will not allow the plant to come up come what may', even if the government takes decision to take up the project, the villagers would not allow it to materialise, the power plant would pollute the atmosphere affecting the fertility of the land and the crops besides health hazards to the people of the Mysore, he observed.

Meanwhile, Minister for PWD and Energy H D Revanna has said that the government would go ahead with the project since the state was in dire need of more power to meet the growing demand from industries. However, the government would take into confidence the people before approval.

UNI