Fast against thermal plant enters second year

SRIKAKULAM: To mark the 1st anniversary of the ongoing relay hunger strike that was started by fishermen and farmers against the proposed 2,640-MW thermal power plant at Bhavanapadu of Santabommali on Aug 15 last year, members of the Bhavanapadu Thermal Vyatirekha Porata Samithi (BTVPS) on Monday paid tributes to the protesters who were killed in police firing in Feb this year. Around 400 locals, including women, will join the relay hunger strike besides taking out a rally on Tuesday.The protest by farmers against the plant resulted in the Ministry of Environment issuing an order to stop the project works on March 1. However, they plan to continue the protest till the state government ordered judicial probe into the police firing.