Hyderabad, June 23 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh High Court Thursday set aside a government order, allotting land to a thermal power project in Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra.

 
 Dealing with a petition filed by some environmentalists challenging the land allotment, the court set aside the order issued in 2008.
 
 Under the order issued Sep 15, 2008, the state government had allotted 972 acres of land to Nagarjuna Construction Company, which proposed to develop a 2,640 MW plant at Sompeta at a cost of Rs.12,000 crore.
 
 Local communities and the environmental groups have been opposing the project on the ground that it is coming up on a wetland. They argued  that the project not only threatens the ecology but also endangers the livelihood of fishermen and farmers.
 
 The National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) on July 14, 2010 had cancelled environmental clearance for the project on the ground that it was given in violation of norms.
 
 The NEAA order had come a day after three protesters were killed in police firing on people protesting against the project at Sompeta.
 
 Krishna Murthy, president of Paryavarana Parirakshana Sangham (PPS), which is spearheading the movement against the project, hailed the high court verdict and described it as "a victory of the people".