THE controversy over the 1,000 megawatt Cogentrix power projecr in Mangalore, Karnataka, has come to an end with the Centre formally giving its approval to the project in principle and the Cogentrix management promising to adhere to strict environment standards.

However, the final environmental clearance for the project will be issued only after Cogentrix clears certain queries and fulfils all conditions stipulated by the state pollution control board.

The environmental clearance committee of the state government had given its "conditional consent", following which the Central Electric Authority cleared the Rs 4,300 crore thermal power project on July 28. Meanwhile, Cogentrix has offered to cut costs by reducing the construction time.