Five well-known Mysoreans have submitted a memorandum to the Government of Karnataka on the Chamalapura thermal plant proposed to be set up in Mysore.
“Irrespective of the merits of the case, we, the signatories, have called upon the government to have an open mind and be ready to listen to the people, at least once , to the experts who have worked lifetime on conservation of wildlife, historical places, heritage structures, cancer specialists, etc.
“This is what democracy is all about.Not to shy away, not to ram down… but to have the courage to listen.”
The signatories to the memorandum are: T.S. Satyan,
Krishna Vattam, H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, E.R. Ramachandran, and K. Manu
***
“The proposed 1000 MW Thermal Power Plant at Chamalapura is supposed to alleviate the power shortage in Karnataka State. No doubt, there is an acute power deficit in the State with respect to demand and supply.
“However, it is wise to keep the overall picture in perspective. Comparisons are made with Raichur with regard to the aftereffects stressing that the environmental effects would be minimal.
“However, the following facts may be noted.
“Without comparing Raichur Thermal Project, an objective analysis of the adverse effect on taking up Chamalapura Thermal Project has been attempted. Despite whatever decision that has been taken we would urge the government to bestow urgent and serious attention to the issue on which NGOs, citizens and the farmers affected have protested vehemently. The following facts speak for themselves.
1. Hoary history of Mysore: Mysore has a magnificent history dating to the early part of 5th century A.D. The spiritual, cultural heritage on the one hand and the architectural and diversity of nature’s bounty in terms of forestry and the wild life surrounding the city on the other, makes Mysore one of the most sought-after tourists spots and is the backbone of the thriving tourism industry. The Dasara festival is a result of centuries of culture put together now. The environmental impact will affect the tourism industry in many ways apart from other disastrous results which are enumerated below.
2. Palaces and heritage buildings: With an estimated emission of SO2 of 180 tonnes per day and NO2 of 50 tonnes per day, solid particulate matter of 5 tonnes per day, ash of 6,000 tonnes per day, CO2 of 7.5 million tonnes per year and finally of 5,000 tons of ash per day blowing across Mysore, the bounty of nature will vanish in just a few years. To give an example, the engineering marvel of palace structures has mainly lime stone and sand. The gases and dust will gradually corrode the surface, discolour the facade and weaken the structure. What elements did not do for centuries, the power plant will do it in few years. The finest of electrostaic precipitators cannot trap dust particle (less than 65 microgram) which permeate and corrode all surfaces over a period of time. Are our Tourism Ministry experts and Secretary, Heritage commissioner and INTACH convinced that nothing will happen to the august structures? Has the scion of the Wodeyars whose forefathers were the original builders of this great city been consulted?
3. Forestry and wildlife: Mysore has all along been famous for its Khedda operation and now for its wildlife safari in Bandipur and Nagarahole tiger sanctuaries. This is again the backbone of the tourism industry and the erstwhile rulers protected and nurtured this for centuries. Has the Government consulted its own experts in the forest department and wildlife experts, some of them world-renowned, for the impact of the thermal plant? Should the Government fritter away a healthy and very rich environment, unmindful of the fears of the general public, and not even consult experts who will stand faithful to their profession and give their considered opinion?
4. Human and aquatic life: Apart from the above harmful effects, the effect on human and birdlife cannot be minimized. Apart from exposure to these gases, they will get much worse in winter due to temperature inversion. There is no doubt a large populace will be exposed to respiratory problems from air pollution due to coal dust and acid rain. There will be a heavy impact on flora and fauna and the impact on soil will hit the agricultural crops. Why has the government not consulted the public health specialists and agricultural scientists on the environmental impact. Finally, mercury traces of radioactive minerals are already proven as a forerunner of carcinogens leading to cancer. Why have the leading oncologists in the State not been consulted before launching this project?
“There is no doubt power is a real problem and efforts have to be made to enhance the same. But in our anxiety, to get over the cold, we should not cut off the nose.
“We have not once touched on the human problem of displacement of people which causes untold large-scale miseries. But do we have the right to erase the history of a centuries-old city by hacking its rich spiritual, cultural, bountiful forests, wildlife, rivers, agriculture without as much as a discussion with the experts in the myriad fields who have spent lifetime studying the same?
“If all of them agree in unison with the Government, it should go ahead with the project. The least any responsible Government, any responsive Government, should do is call for such a meeting and take an unbiased overall view before taking a decision.
“History will applaud a person, a Government for having the courage to listen to all aspects of a problem from the experts, look at it from all sides, and satisfy itself fully that it is protecting its treasured heritage inherited by it, before arriving at a decision.
“We believe such a situation has come up in Mysore.We call upon our leaders to rise to the occasion.”
T.S. Satyan
Krishna Vattam
E.R. Ramachandran
H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana
K. Manu
churumuri 
Something tells me that even with a new power plant, much of the power generated is already allocated to Bengaluru. As of now, that city is about half the load of the entire state and growing.
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The project will go ahead. I agree that power-hungry Bangalore will consume most of the power generated needing another plant within a short time. The problem is Indian /karnataka population increasing at an unsustainable rate ( China is an example. It needs power, all the raw materials Africa produces , grains australia produces and almost everything that the rest of the world produces at the end to sustain its population growth).
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All anti development people are sponsored by foreign powers…
they only whip up emotions, by talking about history of a place, heritage etc…
not to forget the “pseudo environmentalists” who repeatedly talk about acid rain, fly ash and global warming…
(see my earlier post on “pseudo environmentalist=journalist=foreing sponsor=NGO nexus in…https://churumuri.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/is-privatisation-the-only-way-to-save-our-lakes/#comments)
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July 21 2007, Star of Mysore.
“IF CHAMALAPURA PROJECT IS DROPPED, CAN YOU LIVE IN CANDLE LIGHT?”: CM
KRS, July 21 (BLU&KCU)- “If all kinds of proposed power plants including the one in Chamalapura are dropped, can you lead life in candle light?” asked the visually upset Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
This is the way he reacted when ACICM Convenor M. Lakshmana, representing the agitating farmers requested Kumaraswamy to drop the power plant project at Chamalapura. Lakshmana even explained the problems that will crop up by establishing the plant.
The Chief Minister defended the project saying the demand for power was increasing in the State.
“In this context such proposals are being taken up. If you protest, along with the Chamalapura project we will drop all the proposed power projects. You should not demand for more power on any grounds. You must be content with candle light” said Kumaraswamy in an angry tone.
Not budging to the threat, the Farmers Committee leader Choudhury said “instead of the farmers losing their livelihood and the residents of Mysore getting inflicted with diseases due to thermal plant, we would rather lead the life in candle light. Come what may, the Chamalapura plant, which is sure to destroy the environment should not come up.”
The startled Kumaraswamy staring at him said “Chamalapura project was not the brainchild of the presented coalition Government. Do You know when it all started?”
Upset over it Advocate Arun Kumar said: “yes sir, we know. “The then Government had decided to take up the project in 1983 but the proposal was dropped later for environmental concerns. On the contrary the present Government is again taking up the project knowing well its detrimental effect on the environment. Is it fair?”
Kumaraswamy countered, “you are stressing so much on the environment. When most of the forests were getting destroyed what were the so-called environmentalists doing.”
The protestors explained: “The problem cannot be resolved through arguments. It is a proven fact that the thermal power plant will spoil the atmosphere. Under no pretext the plant should come up.”
The upset and nonchalant Kumaraswamy boarded the bus without accepting the memorandum given by the protestors.
Now it is proved beyond doubt, the adamant attitude of the Government to establishe the power plant at Chamalapura. Kumaraswamy received the memorandum from the farmers who were staging a dharna but he turned a blind eye towards the ACICM led protestors who had assembled right from 11 am.
When Lakshmana and other Chamalapura residents went ahead to meet the CM, the Police waved lathis. Not budging, the defiant protestors managed to catch up with the reluctant Kumaraswamy.
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with attitude like that one can only imagine the wisdom behind that project.
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“… finally of 5,000 tons of ash per day blowing across Mysore …”
Really? Isn’t this scare mongering? Modern coal fired plants have much lower fly ash and particulate emissions.
Coal fired power plants need water. Where else can you build a plant in southern Karnataka? If you don’t want the power plant then don’t complain about power cuts and rising power prices if tariffed fairly.
Power should be sourced locally just like water. Under a fair system a city like Bangalore which uses probably a third of all the energy in the state should be paying higher prices to account for transmission from distant areas. Bangalore is also an exception when it comes to sourcing water as it is pumped from a far away place. Eventually a conflict will develop between Kaveri valley people and Bangalore residents.
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FARMERS! NON TAXPAYERS!
they want subsidized power, 24X365…and that too unmetered
now they oppose power projects
current enu aakashdidnda beeluttha?
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I understand the issues regarding people, environment and heritage of Mysore. But they are not enough obvious reasons to stop the Chamalapura project. We are in bad need of it. The apprehensions that Chamalapura will become another Shaktinagar is not true. We might have failed in Raichur with regard to environment. But with the latest technology available to filter the coal ashes, we can effectively use the ashes [ 3 types of ashes are usually got from a thermal power plant ].
So, the senior citizens and environmentalists, please do not haunt this project. The project is badly needed. Resolve the issues and clear your doubts through discussions with the concerned.
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@ Raviraj Valalmbe Gowda
gauging one, especially farmers with the tax parameter is not correct. But I do agree that farmers have to improve on some of their practices.
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“No doubt, there is an acute power deficit in the State with respect to demand and supply.”
Isn’t that the root cause of all our problems?
Shouldn’t we adopt family planning (voluntary or otherwise) as the number one priority? It is the only long term solution to everything. Start with – no government job or political office or any kind for people with more than 1 or 2 children. No subsidy for farmers who break the rule. No reservations for the ones who breed too much etc. And maybe physical punishment for people who break the rule… Irrespective of religion, caste etc.
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Hi thejas,
whatever you said, the chief minister could not say. what are people, who are not in the know but genuinely concerned, to gather from the way chief minister reacted? isn’t it the responsibility of the govt to educate about the issue? they have not given any assurances that this will be different from the raichur plant.
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Typical “not in my backyard” problem. Wish these 5-well know and educated gentlemen lobbied for “clean coal tech plants” with imported high-grade coal rather than opposing the project itself.
Raviraj Valalmbe Gowda
Farmers get power 24/365? Shows how far you are from rural Karnataka. Please come and visit my village in Periyapatna about 70kms from Mysore. We get only 3 hours of power everyday and that too erratic and mostly on single phase. And we do pay same as you guys for electricity used at home. For pumpsets we pay Rs.1000 per year as lump sum. Now they have started fixing meters to IP sets also but the billing is yet to start.
FYI we didn’t have electricity for 12 continous days early this month and it is quite normal.
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As an alternative we can have a candle factory and a buddy factory in Mysore so that our well known Mysoreans will be happy.
What happens when there is a power shortage and frequent power cut? We never had provision for celing fan in our house which was not required then, but now we need an AC in summer!
Forget the industry! 30 years back Mysore used to sleep, now it is awake and kicking!
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I agree that it is a failure on the part of the government not to come out openly and education the people about the project. It is its responsibility also – to address the apprehensions of the citizens.
Proly there would not have been any protests by the locals and farmers who are losing land – if the government would have made them the stake holders in the project. Make people a part of any development project. Educate them about the project.
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I agree that it is a failure on the part of the government not to come out openly and educating the people about the project. It is its responsibility also – to address the apprehensions of the citizens.
Proly there would not have been any protests by the locals and farmers who are losing land – if the government would have made them the stake holders in the project. Make people a part of any development project. Educate them about the project.
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Also if the same guys can save mysore from people like madesha, manja and their clones, that would be much better…
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yeah trivialize it, generalize it. candles, not in my background that should sum it all up. that is all.
what is around chamalapura at a distance of 50 kms
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Aruna Urs Says:
that`s why you need power projects!
thanks for indirectly helping me convey the message!!!
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Well said Dharma, let these well known Mysoreans go and sit in Maduvana park or Nazarbad Park in Mysore and read the daily and not interfere with the development of Mysore. These people must be having fans, refrigerator, Microwave, TV, Computer and many other electric gadgets with
them in their house. Let them get rid of them and go to the old Mysore days. Let us retain what is in Mysore like gardens, vegetation, avenue trees and other cultural facility given by our Late JW and allow Mysore to grow around
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chamalapura,nandikooru ,tadadi projects are undertaken more for kickbacks from funding companies. politicians are not interested in anything except that.
power generation in scandinavian countries,and other european countries should be analysed because they have uninterrupted power supply yet they have preserved nature .
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@ Dr. Ramesh
how do you know, sir, that these projects are for kickbacks ??
Tadadi project is one of the 5 such thermal projects that are being planned in India for the next 5-yr plan. They are called ULTRA MEGA POWER PROJECTS.
They are very ambitious projects.
One should not comment without knowing the correct story of such projects.
and coming to Scandinavian nations. yes, i do agree that they have uninterrupted power supply. reason – proper and effective utilization of resources to generate power. You know what, Norway, Sweden have exploited 60% of their potential in Hydel power sector where as India has exploited only 18% of the total hydel potential. This is why it is very important that we come up with more and more hydel projects since they are not harmful to the environment. but the issue of rehabilitation has to be addressed properly. Otherwise more people like Medha Pathkar and Arundhati Roy will surface to halt the nation’s growth.
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but why at this particular location? kabini, krs, harangi all around 50 kms from here.
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I too am unable to understand the selection of this particular site. In any sense it is nonsensical !
Firstly, there is such a rare ecology in and around, that will definitely be affected in one way or the other [might not be due to ash, but due to the infrastructure that will be developed in and around the plant].
Secondly, the site is in such a place that you need whole lot of infrastructure to transport coal to the plant. One needs to build the conveyor from the source of the coal or from the supply point. But neither the source nor the supply point is nearby. And the idea of transporting coal in trucks is so funny and stupid !
Thirdly, a part of the ashes produced will be stored in huge lagoons containing water [this ash is called pond ash]. Though enough measures are taken to see to it that the there is no percolation, it often happens when it rains. The ash particles contain some seriously dangerous chemicals such as Arsenic, which on percolation to the ground will reach the ground water and in turn other water bodies. Also, the water bodies are more here as Tarale Subba has pointed out. This means, there is a potential threat to all the water bodies – rivers, ground water, lakes and ponds. Remember, the main source of domestic water supply to a large population of Mysore city and in and around places is Kaveri and Kabini, which may get polluted.
Keeping all these in mind, I oppose the site. But not the project. The project should be in an area that is isolated, near to the coal supply point as far as possible, away from major water bodies.
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namge yenu byaDve beDa, currentoo beDa, yavasayaanu beDa, symke rug hochkonDu manikoLoNa, pakkadamaneyavau mundbarli, namgenu, allavra…namge Chamlapura yaake beku, chamundibeTTa, chamrajapuram, chamrajawodeyavrmaga iro ganTa yaano beDa..
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thejas, thanks for the post. Corroborating what you have said here is a report from today’s Deccan Herald.
The Karnataka Government has dropped coal-based Ghataprabha thermal power plant in Belgaum district …
… the government had yielded to pressure from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments and is not going ahead with the 1000MW project. The two neighbouring states are said to have objected to the project saying that it would pollute the Krishna river.
… However, the government seems to have ignored the protests for the Chamalapur project. No public hearing has been held for the project.
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Instead or all this talk and objection about the project location near Mysore,
why not suggest alternate sites which is well acceptable to all. We are
good at objecting to any project or proposal but what is the alternative? If this project is real then let us not lose out on this.
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Many thanks for great discussion. That is what it was meant to be!
Our concern is Government should not shy away from talking to experts in the field, listen to their views and then take a decision.Wildlife conservators, Marine biologists, archeologists, tourism promotors all have a stake in this. For Instance ‘Retired Senior Forest Officers Association ( RESFA) is a very active body in promotion of Flora and Fauna.Two of its office bearers Dr. M.K. Appiah and Dr.K.A. Kushalappa who are President and Vice-president respectively are very well known experts in thier field and were Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), the highest posts in Karnataka Forest Dept. According to Mr. M.B. Srinivas JT. Sec. of RESFA and retired DCF, neither their the Association nor the Forest Department have been consulted with regard to any effect on the Forests and on wildlife! This is serious, as it could be a similar situation wherein Agriculture scientists in Dharwad or / and Bangalore are not consulted on the after-effects on crop growth.Similarly with regard to Radioactive substances with Oncologists.
No Government should take the right away from people to express their fears,from experts in giving their professional advice.The Govt. of course should take their decision which it feels right – but only after taking all the views and people in to confidence. But if it rams down a decision in a secret-sort of way without even as much as a discussion, we are in for bad times. This aspect should be opposed.
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thejas, almost as if to corroborate your observations, there is some news in today’s Deccan Herald…
The Karnataka Government has dropped coal-based Ghataprabha thermal power plant in Belgaum district as it has called for “global invitation for request for qualification” for only Chamalapura in Mysore district and Jewargi in Gulbarga district.
the government had yielded to pressure from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments and is not going ahead with the 1000MW project. The two neighbouring states are said to have objected to the project saying that it would pollute the Krishna river.
However, the government seems to have ignored the protests for the Chamalapur project. No public hearing has been held for the project.
(i had posted a similar message yeterday, my post went to moderation, and the admin is out of town)
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TS , your comments in other forum seem to support anything Tamil . Yenri Mukha nodi maNe haaktheera .
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One fails to understand why the Karnataka Government is not transparent about the Chamalapura project, not coming out with all the details, whether coal-fired or gas-based, why a location near Mysore was chosen etc. This will clear a lot of doubts. Besides, it should also respect public concern and clear their doubts and apprehensions coming out with all data and details and solutions that it has planned to solve problems that are being witnessed in Raichur . Any government has to act in a transparent manner, more so in respect of such public projects.
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TS,
I am sure you have read that Chamalapura still needs blessings from Dept. of Environment. If at all they do the job rigfht,. there is no way in this world they can equate Jewargi and Chamalapura. No brainer, huh? But I do agree that it’s betetr we start making the noise early.
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Coastal D.K. people do not want nagarjuna power plant, Uttara kannada people do not want tadadi, Mysore people do not need chamalapura, no hydro power as the project destroyes forests and depends on rainfall for water. All of the above concerns are correct. Nuclear power is clean. But Left parties do not want any nuclear deal with U.S. which would have paved way for more nuclear plants and more power generation.
What is the way forward for the state and India to progress?
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No doubt, we need power, but before generating power, shouldn’t we take stock of what we would loose in the bargain. I do not agree with Padubidri as well as any location for a thermal plant. If our waters are affected, what are we going to live on? Come on, we are no robots to live on electricity. Some people in this post who have asked these five men to live in Mysore of their dreams. But Mysore should thank them and Mr.Lakshmana for having done what the Govt should have done. They have ignited the minds in the right way, and the public should decide. It’s very simple, a Chamalapura plant, Padubidri plant or a Nandikoor SEZ can be created any number of times anywhere. A Kabini, a Nagarahole, or a Bandipur with all their pristine glory can never be created by any Govt.
Thejas, you are almost there, whilst Mr.RVGowda has gone on his usual rhetoric of being ‘pro-development’ and calling the environmentalists, etc. If they are funded by foreigners, so are these projects, directly or indirectly. You have taken the names of Medha Patkar and Arundathi Roy in a similar context. Hope it’s a mistake.
Though technology has improved and could contain ash to some extent, can we trust these businessmen, our KSPCB, our politicians in enforcing these? Even with these advancements, can these be experimented on a living and a kicking city like Mysore as someone has written? Or on those animals that survive on the fringes? Chamalapura should not happen. It will be good for not just Mys, but all the towns enroute Mys. Just imagine the spillover with transporting coal. Someone who has traveled to Hospet or Wadi by train will understand this. And what about the wildlife around? On this note, can’t the facility at Raichur be bettered, both in terms of pollution control and creating additional generation capacities?
On Dr.Ramesh’s allegation, maybe he is right. Dunno if anyone has observed the way this Govt is functioning. It is clearing every other project. Yes, every other project. And that too with no latest comprehensive study. If Chamalapura was ‘cleared’ in 1983 (the survey would have been done then), Bangalore Metro was finalized during Gundu Rao’s regime (atleast the routes were). One fine day, the Govt cleared the project and work commenced, while the dynamics of Bangalore had completely changed during these two decades. Just see, the Govt is not even commencing a survey to create a rail link from the City to BIAL. It is not just HDK and bro Reva who can decide what Mysore wants. And the least we talk about the rehab track record of our Govts, the better.
With the new Environment Impact Assessment Policy in place, there will be many more of these ventures knocking on our doors trying to screw people, squeeze environment and not really address the long term needs. Maybe, people here should answer few questions about Kaiga Plant which supplies majority of the power generated to other states, whereas the villages and towns around the plant still have no proper power for which several hundreds of acres of dense jungle were razed and habitat were destroyed.
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In a densely populated country like ours, it is next to impossible to find a site that does no harm to anyone/place. I agree that all the questions about environment, the effect on the city etc. are valid. However, it is also valid that we need power. Some folks here have said that they are not against the project but against the site.
My question is, where is this suitable site that doesn’t have some combination of problems like Chamalapura?
Some other people have said that we need more hydel power. Dam more rivers when there is a scarcity of fresh water? Aren’t the Cauvery and Krishna disputes enough? Moreover, it has been conclusively shown in study after study that big dams for hydel power do more damage than benefit in the long run. This is one reason that no big dams are built any more in the West, or for that matter in any other sane place in the world. No China is not a sane place.
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@Kadana Kuthuhala:
Heheeehee – you MUST be from VontiKoppal. Glad you did not say ‘Avva’ – anyway – It was nice to hear that name – Brought back my college days – they were BIG timers then .
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It seems a lot of people opposing the plant are showing the symptoms of NIMBY disease. Yes, there should be transparency, details should be made available to citizens, environmental impact assessed and that the plant should be efficient so as to to reduce pollution and the extent of land required.
CM was definitely harsh in saying that one should learn to live in candle light if the plant does not come up. He has a point to make. The demand for power has soared. Power has to be sourced from nearby places to keep the transmission loss to a minimum (needless to say it is very high in India). Bangalore sucks the most power in the state and it is sourced from no less than 300-400 kms away.
Raichur TPP is the crown jewel of KPTCL – http://www.kptcl.com/kptclstatistics.htm. A new TPP is coming up near Bellary along Tunga Bhadra river. The former jewels Sharavathi and Kali can no longer be expanded. Kaiga is a central project and we have to share the power with neighbours. I am not sure what happened to Bidadi gas fired plant. The wind farms near Chitradurga and Gadag are minor players (whoever is operating these wind turbines are also destroying vegetation by building roads all over hills. Something must be done to minimize this too).
Where else can you generate power now? Eventually the Kaveri basin had to be tapped to generate power. While Uttara Kannada/Shivamogga have made the most sacrifice (getting the least in return), the rivers of Dakshina Kannada/Udupi districts are also being tapped now (with a lot of resistance too).
@Tarle, I followed your link to DH story about Ghataprabha project being dropped. Why would Andhra object to a power plant in the western part of our state? Ghataprabha is a tributary of Krishna. Ghataprabha dam is at least 250kms away from Andra border. Why did Andra not object to project at Jewargi? Bhima river runs less than 100kms from there before joining Krishna at Andra border!! I don’t understand the objection from Maharashtra either as we are the downstream users of water!! The whole reporting from DH seems to be bogus, not surprisingly.
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malnad region including uttara kannada district should be kept away from any big power plants. it is a biodiversity hotspot. what on earth is ministry of environment doing. our judiciary should step in.
karnataka should explore the possibility of energy generation from sea . conservative mini plants have been developed by some organisations. govt should look into it
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Im sure the power here will also be sent to the central grid as well.. We all know that we are drawing zilch from kaiga as well after we lost our evergreen forests to the kaiga plant…All the toxins are left with us and the tamils are enjoying all the generated power.. shame on us
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There cannot be a logical end to one’s power needs. I rtemeber that we didnt have a fan in our house in bangalore until 1996 but now we use an A/C, which i agree is entirely unnecessary. So is the case with new age offices (most IT companies and even the BMTC office on KH Road) who egregiously cover themselves with glass end to end, not only inducing aestheric monotony but also consuming more power to keep themselves cool to counter the ‘green house effect’. India can meet her power requirements only if we chose to remain austere and do away with unnecessary luxury gadgets.The US/Singapore model is surely not the way ahead for US.To paraphrase Gandhi, We have enough power for our needs but not for our greed. I strongly disagree with some of the commenters here almost connoting that ones share of power should be decided by his capacity to pay for it… We cant simply go ahead with life threatening projects like Tadadi, nandikooru and chamalapura in the name of development. We have already destroyed much of north south canara and shivamogga districts
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The real purpose of this power station is supposedly to power code coolie market in Bangalore and industrial belt of Tamil Nadu(Coimbatore, Tirupur…).
Fine. Let’s have a thermal power station itself, but that place is not suited for it. Why not a place like Pavagada or Davanagere which have plenty of groundwater and connected via rail as they want and are mostly barren, be suited for this plant?
Reliance is specifically looking at buying huge tracts of FERTILE land for this kind of projects so that they can grow vegetables and crops and make more profit!
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DS,
i donot understand your q. with eniv clearance if they establish that chamalapura is good candidate then establishes that jewargi is an excellent candidate.
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not if they are in their right minds…they cannot establish that (the fact that they should not is a whole another discussion)…..of course, only if they are in their right minds…sooooo, yes, let’s shout early!!!
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The CM can shift the project to the most important hotspot of the state now…Ramanagaram. He can as well shift the Bidadi project there.
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I would like to see a comprehensive energy audit for each region, including Mysore. 86% of the energy generated by Chamalapura and other projects will go to to waste setting coal unnecessarily ablaze by business as usual ways of life! The health costs of the cancer ridden mining communities supplying fuel to Chamalapura will be annually at least 1.67 times the profits of the plant. See http://www.geocities.com/rakumra/broadisasmalltowninchinathatsellsnonelectricalairconditioning.pdf
The people who are fighting against the plant want all of us including all life to surive-in health-not in a state of absence of disease. We must reveal via an audit how we can live in health and glory by minimising our energy needs and consumerism.
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The critics should read the essay:
Click to access broadisasmalltowninchinathatsellsnonelectricalairconditioning.pdf
This shows the bottom line of Chamalapura:
The medicare costs of the cancer-ridden mining communities supplying coal to Chamalapura will be at least 1.67 times the profits from the plant at least on an annual basis. The plant does not qualify to se within striking distance of habitats!
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Hydel project = Medha Patkar gets into action
Coal based = ParisaraVyadhis make noise
Gas based= too expensive
Firewood burning=ozone hole
Candle= petroleum product, not lasting
better that all buddhi jeevis and parisaravyadhis go into forest and live like Kaadu Manujas…beware, you can not burn firewood, it makes hole in ozone layer, as you made us believe!
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This debate on the suitability or even the necessity of a coal based power project in the relatively green environment of Mysore district has thrown up a lot of relevant issues. One such issue is as follows:
The sole objective of planning a coal based power project is to generate additional electricity. But do we need additional electricity? Is there a real shortage of power in the state or is it due to the inefficient use of the existing electricity infrastructure? Are there viable but benign alternative?
An objective analysis of these issues will provide a different story: that of lack of adequate transparency, efficiency and public accountability on part of the electricity supply industry. The following posting may help in this regard:
http://mymysore200.blogspot.com/2006/10/are-coal-power-stations-for-karnataka.html
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Hi All,
Let me put my points. First of all I feel development of a coutry should happen in all dimensions. But in India development is happening only in cities. Just consider bangalore. Even if you go 5 KMs beyond bangalore you will not even find basic facilities like food, water, shelter. We need food, air, water more than metros, malls, multiplexes. We are said to be economically strong only if we use & conserve the resources properly. We should start taking ideas like solar energy, rain water harvesting. Destroying the nature is only the result of greed & not development.
Having a lemon tree in the house & preparing lemonade is 100 times better than setting up industry to prepare lemon flavored drinks. All it does is consume space, power, causes pollution, needs transportation. At the end of the day we get “fake” drink. We call this “DEVELOPMENT”.
Any development that cant give proper air, water, food has to rejected. Let us know what is really needed without blindly copying from others.
I strongly say chamalapura project should not take off at any cost & people should join their hands to fight. Look at what ‘Dahanu’ project in Gujarat caused.
We are getting into chain reaction.
– Have a themal plant
– it will create more heat
– it will reduce green
– to keep you kool (from global warming) you need AC
– you need more power
– you need soooooooooper speciality hospital to fix your polluted lungs
– it needs power & so on
IS THIS WHAT DEVELOPMENT?
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If you go to Google and type’ Questionnaire for Environmental Appraisal form for thermal power plant’, you get a 24-page questionnaire which the Company executing the project will have to fill and get the approval of Union Ministry of Environment.Normally it is very difficult to met the exacting Standards.But comapnies do manage to get the approval.With the Chamalapura Map given by ‘Tarlesubba’, one can see the impact of this plant on Nagerhole,on wildlife and forestry and other places nearby. How can anybody get the approval at this site? We have to wait and see.
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It’s really frightening to see that so many people are pro-Chamalapura Thermal plant. Yes we do need power to live as we are all used to doing. But perhaps the first steps that need to be taken by the Government and all right thinking people is making the most use of the power we do already have. How many of the people above who are touting the plant saying we need more power use solar water heaters and CFLs in their homes? And then one can go on and on about the ways in which power is being wasted and stolen all over the state. Does the Chief Minister, who suggested we should all live by candlelight, or anyone in his family for that matter, pay for the electricity they use?
Maybe more electricity is required but at what cost? Is sitting in a tub of nicely (electrically heated) hot water with all your incandescent bulbs creating a lovely glow in your fully air-conditioned house going to make up for the fact that you or your children are suffering from cancer due to the radioactive leftovers from burning the coal at Chamalapura having entered the ground water? Or will the bright lights make it easier to look at your deformed grandchild, so born because her mother (your daughter) has been inhaling vaporised mercury (another by-product of burning coal) for over 15 years?
It is not scare mongering but more than likely to be the true outcome. When the Government is for some reason trying to push through the project with all haste when it never moves quickly on anything, when the minister in charge says things like “we don’t have to listen to the people” (democracy, what’s that?), when environmental clearance has not been given but water allotment has (Huh? how? what?), when the Government is trying to acquire 3000 acres of land when around 300 acres will do for a plant of the size proposed at Chamalapura, are we really naive enough to believe that the Government will put up a plant that will burn only “clean” coal, that the plant will be at the top of the line in keeping the particulate matter out of the air and that all radioactive and poisonous waste will be conscientiously and properly disposed of? We may not be in possession of all the facts (Right to Information Act, anyone?) but we are surely not stupid.
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http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/askpablo-coalfired-power-plant-002591.php
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the protest must be in this project becouse its not only problem of former its the problem of earth so we can keep it clean and prevent the pollution
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Campaign against Coal Based Thermal Power Plant project at Chamalapura, Mysore.
http://www.petitiononline.com/coalbase/
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The consumption of energy is increasing day by day,energy plays a very vital role in the development of the country.Here its not a matter where thermal power plant is being installed???It is matter about the environmental effects/hazards it is going to cause.Instead we have to think about the alternative sources of energy which we can go for.As India is one of the fastest developing country in the world,and i dont think we find any difficulty in implementing these kind of sources for consumption of power
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YouTube videos on Chamalapura Agitation
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
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Centre rejected eco-clearance for Chamalapura project in 1998
Revocable conditional environmental clearance was issued for a smaller power plant of 500 MW capacity at the same site.
http://www.karmayog.org/environment/environment_14065.htm
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/05/stories/2008040554060400.htm
http://www.petitiononline.com/coalbase/
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Hi All,
Does any of you have contact details of Lakshmana of ACICM? Phone or email is ok.
Thanks
-Ravi
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dear sir,
i am residing at k.r.mohalla mysore. i hear news govt. no to
chamalapura power plant. but it not exactly tell whether ban or transfer the project to other district if govt. will bring back the project to mysore we protest untill the project go out from mysore. it effects mysore environment and also surrounding national parks.
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at Raichur luckily there are cement plants located at about 100 kms to use the fly ash produced and hence pollution is minimised to a great extent.let the government find the users for fly ash and convince the people regarding reduction of pollution before taking up the project at chamalapura
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All apart, the author says Mysore buildings are built with ‘Lime stone’ which is incorrect. Mostly Granite is used. Lime mortar is used for plastering etc.
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