Ankulapatur power station

Ankulapatur power station phase 1 is a 350 megawatt (MW) coal plant under construction by VSF Projects in Andhra Pradesh, India. The company is also planning second phase of 135 MW.

Location
The map below shows the construction site for a large project near Ankulapatur. However, the construction site appears to lack the cooling towers shown on the VSF website.



October 2011: Protesters injured during public hearing in Ankulapaturu village in Andhra Pradesh
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.

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.

Project Details
Sponsor: VSF Projects Location: Ankulapatur village, Chillakur mandal, PSR Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. Coordinates: 14.1383443, 79.9908811 Status: Phase 1: construction; Phase 2: proposed Nameplate capacity: Phase 1: 350 MW; Phase 2: 135 MW Type: Supercritical Projected in service: Coal Type: Coal Source: Estimated annual CO2: 2,069,795 tons Source of financing:

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