Greens oppose Chamalapura project

Engineers and environmentalists at a meeting in Mysore decided to mobilise public opinion against the proposed 1,000 Mw Chamalapura coal-fired thermal power project near Mysore, one of three proposed thermal power generating stations for which the Karnataka government has invited expression of interest.

Proposed on a 1,000-acre land, the Chamalapura project will use 1,600 m litres of water a day to generate 7,500 MUs of power annually.

The three power projects, with a capacity of 3,000 Mw, the other two being Ghataprabha in Belgaum district and Jewargi in Gulbarga district, are to be developed on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis, according to a government notification of February 22.

Making a presentation on the project and its likely impact on environment and other related issues, power consultant Shankar Sharma said that in view of the serious implications associated with coal-based thermal power projects, which are considered the world over as highly polluting, there was an urgent need to review the implications of the Chamalapura project along with the other two projects.

Though the proposed plan size for Mysore is about one-fourth the size of the Tadadi ultra mega power project, the social, economic and environmental impacts will be similar but lesser in magnitude.

While such plants are generally established in coal belts to cut cost on transportation, the proposed usage of 1,600 m litres of water will aggravate the water problem in the area, which is already suffering because of the Cauvery Tribunal award. It will aggravate the greenhouse effect with fly ash and other environmental issues.

"The peak-hour power requirement in Karnataka is 6,289 MU, while the supply is 5,811 MU, leaving a deficit of 478 MU or 7.6 per cent. The annual energy requirement is 36,694 MU, while the supply is 36,002 MU, leaving a deficit of 692 MU or 1.9 per cent. The energy loss is as high as 31 per cent. If this loss is brought down to even 15 per cent, the saving of 16 per cent energy will not only take care of the deficit but also leave excess energy. The wide 25 per cent loss in irrigation pumpsets can be reduced to five per cent, effecting a saving of 20 per cent," the energy expert suggested.

Instead of coal-fired thermal power projects, the state government should explore suitable alternatives, he said recommending emphasis on efficiency improvement and energy conservation, effective demand side management, heavy use of new and renewable energy sources, integrated resource management planning, effective cost-benefit analysis, and social costs and alternatives, and adoption of international practices.

"The action plan for the future should be an improvement of efficiency of industry, demand side management and conservation, exploration of alternate energy sources, and integrated resource management," Sharma said at the meeting arranged by the Institution of Engineers.

Unfortunately, he said, none of these factors was given attention. Therefore, it has become necessary to assess if additional large coal-based power projects are needed.