A Mega Coal Power Project and Coastal Ecology
Issues with Tadadi Ultra Mega Power Project in Coastal Karnataka
A proposal, by the Central govt., has been mooted to set up a massive coal based power station (4,000 MW capacity)in the sensitive Aghanashini estuary in coastal Karnataka.
The West Coast in India in general, and in Karnataka in particular is adjacent to very precious and environmentally very fragile Western Ghats, which is an important bio diversity hot spot as per UN. The entire stretch of the Western Ghats in Karnataka is covered with thick forests of unparalleled bio-diversity and is a source of a large number of rivers providing life sustenance to the entire peninsula. The huge socio-environmental impacts of coal fired power stations are well documented. Because of the humid nature of the coast and the wall like Western Ghats, the potential for acid rain because of the flue gases from the burning of such a large quantity of coal must be a real concern to the society.
The coastal strip of land in the vicinity of the proposed site in Karnataka, for example, is a very rich habitation with evergreen forests, fertile agricultural fields, prosperous fishing sites and iodine rich salt mines. This unique habitat, which is the sources of food/living hood for a large number of families, will be destroyed by the proposed project. Most of the land for the proposed site has to come out of this rich habitation. The evacuation of 4,000 MW power has to happen mostly over the thickly forested Western Ghats, needing a transmission corridor 0f few hundred square kM area.
One can only shudder to think the potential for devastation caused on the regional flora, fauna and the society by the destruction of these habitats. In the name of such unsustainable developments, if we continue to destroy thick forests and fertile agricultural lands, how are we going to increase the forest cover from the present level of 19% to 33%, which is a target for National Forest Policy, and also feed the growing population?
The people of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharastra are convinced that the Western Ghats and adjacent areas have already taken more than their share of abuse in the name of development, and hence are vehemently opposing such ghastly projects. A strong people based movement, led by MPs, MLAs, religious leaders and environmentalists has gained momentum, and has made it clear to the state government that this project will be opposed at all costs. It will not be a surprise if similar mass movements are reported from the communities around each of the proposed project sites for similar reasons.
It is perplexing that our planners seem to have ignored all these crucial issues, which may threaten the very meaning of the word “development”. It is also very unfortunate that our policy makers are ignoring the fact that the present crises facing our electricity industry is only due to the gross inefficiency in it. The deficit and the additional demand for next few years can be comfortably met by making the existing electrical infrastructure highly efficient, and by the responsible use of the available capacity. When combined together the aggregate technical & commercial (AT&C) loss of about 35% and utilization loss of about 30%, the electricity industry at present seem to be utilizing effectively less than 40% of the installed capacity. This can be increased to a level above 70%. Such a measure alone can virtually add more than 30% to the power availability, which can be about the size of proposed 7 x 4,000 MW, at less than half the proposed project cost. The measures like Demand Side Management and energy conservation can supplement these efforts to a considerable extent. If we also focus on proper harnessing of non-conventional sources like solar power, windmill and bio-mass, the requirement of fossil fuel power stations can be drastically reduced. These alternative measures have a smaller gestation period, very low or nil impact on environment; can avoid recurring costs of fuels & losses, water and other resources; and will result in least social costs. Hence the state/central governments have an obligation to answer the question: why don’t we explore these simpler alternatives first before even considering such ghastly mega projects?
The very idea of these ultra mega projects to burn large quantity of imported coal at a huge societal cost and imposing so many socio-environmental problems on the common man is not in the best interest of our society, and hence there is a need to review the requirement of policy behind large such projects. The public would expect that a highly objective analysis of all the direct and indirect costs to the society as a whole, by an apex committee consisting of environmental & social scientists, economists, engineers and community leaders, should be carried out before finalizing these projects.
The society has to seriously introspect whether we need such high pollution projects at the cost of long term damage to our fragile environment and social fabric. Energy security, on a sustainable basis, can come only with the responsible use of our own resources, and not from imported coal or diesel on a perpetual basis.
In this background a seminar is being organised in the city of Mysore on 14th Dec. 2006. The seminar, which is open to public, has the following details:
Date of the seminar: Thursday, the 14th Dec. 2006, 3.00 PM onwards
Venue: Vivekanada Hall, Mahajana college, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysore
Organisers: Swarnavally Sewa Prathistana, Mysore
Key Note address: Dr. D K Subramanyam, Retired Professor, IISc, Banaglore
The seminar will focus on the importance of saving Western Ghats for a sustainable development of plains of Karnataka, and the peninsular India. The focus of this seminar will also be on the massive damages on Western Ghats which have already been caused in the name of development (especially the large hydro electric projects), the social and environmental impacts, and how such projects can be avoided in future through suitable alternatives.
There is also a proposal to exhibit a documentary film on river Aghanashini in Western Ghats.
A proposal, by the Central govt., has been mooted to set up a massive coal based power station (4,000 MW capacity)in the sensitive Aghanashini estuary in coastal Karnataka.
The West Coast in India in general, and in Karnataka in particular is adjacent to very precious and environmentally very fragile Western Ghats, which is an important bio diversity hot spot as per UN. The entire stretch of the Western Ghats in Karnataka is covered with thick forests of unparalleled bio-diversity and is a source of a large number of rivers providing life sustenance to the entire peninsula. The huge socio-environmental impacts of coal fired power stations are well documented. Because of the humid nature of the coast and the wall like Western Ghats, the potential for acid rain because of the flue gases from the burning of such a large quantity of coal must be a real concern to the society.
The coastal strip of land in the vicinity of the proposed site in Karnataka, for example, is a very rich habitation with evergreen forests, fertile agricultural fields, prosperous fishing sites and iodine rich salt mines. This unique habitat, which is the sources of food/living hood for a large number of families, will be destroyed by the proposed project. Most of the land for the proposed site has to come out of this rich habitation. The evacuation of 4,000 MW power has to happen mostly over the thickly forested Western Ghats, needing a transmission corridor 0f few hundred square kM area.
One can only shudder to think the potential for devastation caused on the regional flora, fauna and the society by the destruction of these habitats. In the name of such unsustainable developments, if we continue to destroy thick forests and fertile agricultural lands, how are we going to increase the forest cover from the present level of 19% to 33%, which is a target for National Forest Policy, and also feed the growing population?
The people of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharastra are convinced that the Western Ghats and adjacent areas have already taken more than their share of abuse in the name of development, and hence are vehemently opposing such ghastly projects. A strong people based movement, led by MPs, MLAs, religious leaders and environmentalists has gained momentum, and has made it clear to the state government that this project will be opposed at all costs. It will not be a surprise if similar mass movements are reported from the communities around each of the proposed project sites for similar reasons.
It is perplexing that our planners seem to have ignored all these crucial issues, which may threaten the very meaning of the word “development”. It is also very unfortunate that our policy makers are ignoring the fact that the present crises facing our electricity industry is only due to the gross inefficiency in it. The deficit and the additional demand for next few years can be comfortably met by making the existing electrical infrastructure highly efficient, and by the responsible use of the available capacity. When combined together the aggregate technical & commercial (AT&C) loss of about 35% and utilization loss of about 30%, the electricity industry at present seem to be utilizing effectively less than 40% of the installed capacity. This can be increased to a level above 70%. Such a measure alone can virtually add more than 30% to the power availability, which can be about the size of proposed 7 x 4,000 MW, at less than half the proposed project cost. The measures like Demand Side Management and energy conservation can supplement these efforts to a considerable extent. If we also focus on proper harnessing of non-conventional sources like solar power, windmill and bio-mass, the requirement of fossil fuel power stations can be drastically reduced. These alternative measures have a smaller gestation period, very low or nil impact on environment; can avoid recurring costs of fuels & losses, water and other resources; and will result in least social costs. Hence the state/central governments have an obligation to answer the question: why don’t we explore these simpler alternatives first before even considering such ghastly mega projects?
The very idea of these ultra mega projects to burn large quantity of imported coal at a huge societal cost and imposing so many socio-environmental problems on the common man is not in the best interest of our society, and hence there is a need to review the requirement of policy behind large such projects. The public would expect that a highly objective analysis of all the direct and indirect costs to the society as a whole, by an apex committee consisting of environmental & social scientists, economists, engineers and community leaders, should be carried out before finalizing these projects.
The society has to seriously introspect whether we need such high pollution projects at the cost of long term damage to our fragile environment and social fabric. Energy security, on a sustainable basis, can come only with the responsible use of our own resources, and not from imported coal or diesel on a perpetual basis.
In this background a seminar is being organised in the city of Mysore on 14th Dec. 2006. The seminar, which is open to public, has the following details:
Date of the seminar: Thursday, the 14th Dec. 2006, 3.00 PM onwards
Venue: Vivekanada Hall, Mahajana college, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysore
Organisers: Swarnavally Sewa Prathistana, Mysore
Key Note address: Dr. D K Subramanyam, Retired Professor, IISc, Banaglore
The seminar will focus on the importance of saving Western Ghats for a sustainable development of plains of Karnataka, and the peninsular India. The focus of this seminar will also be on the massive damages on Western Ghats which have already been caused in the name of development (especially the large hydro electric projects), the social and environmental impacts, and how such projects can be avoided in future through suitable alternatives.
There is also a proposal to exhibit a documentary film on river Aghanashini in Western Ghats.
posted by Shankar Sharma at
8:37 PM
2 Comments:
thanks for this informative post.
By
Anonymous, at 3:21 AM
Thanks for the thanks.
What was so informative about the post? Do you agree with what was said or not? Why don't you try to add to the posting?
If you have any similar stories why don't you share it with us?
By
Shankar Sharma, at 7:56 AM
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