THE controversy over the 1,000 megawatt Cogentrix power projecr inMangalore, Karnataka, has come to anend with the Centre formally givingits approval to the project in principleand the Cogentrix management promising to adhere to strict environmentstandards.
However, the final environmentalclearance for the project will be issuedonly after Cogentrix clears certain queriesand fulfils all conditions stipulated by thestate pollution control board.
The environmental clearance committee of the state government had givenits "conditional consent", followingwhich the Central Electric Authoritycleared the Rs 4,300 crore thermal powerproject on July 28. Meanwhile, Cogentrixhas offered to cut costs by reducing theconstruction time.