A world that is

David’s house is located at a short distance of about 500m from the gates of the Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) and he, like all other villagers, is not very pleased by the plant’s location and the way in which it has resulted in the mixing of water of the Arabian Sea with the water in their wells and the ground water. But the UPCL has also provided David, a Garage Owner, with more work. The construction of roads has lead to an increased vehicle density in the once completely disconnected area. New roads have been built to provide for better connectivity with the plant.

Image by Clemens v. Vogelsang

Before the construction of UPCL, David’s Garage used to see only as many as a dozen customers in a month. But after the road network in the village Santhu improved, his monthly customer average has improved to more than double of the previous amount, having peaked when the plant was under construction.

“It has created many problems for the people. In yermal and around padubidri people have to go far off places to get clean drinking water. The smoke is rusting our metal sheets and has also decreased the fertility of the crops,” he said. “But at the same time, the plant has also opened opportunities for the villagers to earn a stable living. Many of the farmers who were displaced have been employed in the plant as workers and are being paid on a fixed monthly, weekly or hourly basis. The roads have been built and now we have a public transport system connecting Santhu with the rest of the villages and the town. It has improved my earning, and now my kids are enrolled in a better school,” he added.

A man believes in god for either the promise of heaven, or by fears of the torments of hell.
Technology gives to some a blessing and to the others, as it chooses indiscriminately: a curse.