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| Sunday, 17 March 2002 |
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Upper Kotmale: eco-groups unhappy by Neomi Kodikara The once-controversial Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project (UKHP) looks set to re-kindle the uproar it once provoked among environmentalists who effectively blocked the project's implementation in the mid-1990s. Eco-activists have again warned of a landslide threat to the proposed Upper Kotmale barrage system that could endanger several townships downstream, including the major town of Talawakelle. Reacting to the Ceylon Electricity Board's recent announcement about re-activating the project, environmentalists have warned of dire consequences to the Talawakelle town ranging from earth slides to flooding, and a total devastation of the area. The UKHP project scheduled to be commenced on July 10 is expected to provide 150 MW of power to the national grid, from 2006. The CEB plans to begin the preliminary construction of the project which would connect 150 MW to the national grid from June 10 this year and the environmentalists have sounded its potential threat to the national heritage and the area around the project. The project to be constructed on the western slopes of the Nuwara Eliya mountain range will be served by water diverted from the upper reaches of the Kotmale Oya. According to engineering feasibility studies, the proposed hydro-power project will utilise water from a regulated `pond' across the Kotmale oya at Talawakelle. The pond will be fed by eight water streams, Devon oya, St. Andrew's stream, Kuda Oya, Kotmale Oya, Pundula Oya, Puna Oya, Ramboda Oya and Dusiane Oya. These waters will be piped through 13-km long tunnels to an underground power house, that will operate two turbines 75 MW each. The power house will feed the national grid with an additional 512 million units of power annually. However, the Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) has warned of environmental dangers and pointed out that the 50 per cent of the project is located within a well-known landslide zone, clearly evident in a geographical map. According to EFL sources, the harmful environmental effects include increased flooding in the Talawakelle town, submerging of the town, increased soil erosion around the project area, and the drying up of the area due to 22-km long tunnels and loss of scenic beauty by alternate release of water at St. Clair's and Devons waterfalls. Niyandora, where the regulated pond is to be built is declared as an unsafe area and the inhabitants have been evacuated to safer places a few years ago, Under the UKHP the present delicate stability of the hill side could be disturbed by deep excavation and rock blasting. The environmentalists question whether the area is safe for human occupation, particulary after disturbing its delicate stability. The project was twice rejected by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and once rejected by the former Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Environment and Women's Affairs. "However, in 1996 the CEB appealed against the decision of the CEA. Finally, the Secretary granted approval for it on political grounds without public participation. But, when the EFL sought relief for the injustice before the Court of Appeal (CA/023/98) with a writ of certiorari quashing the Secretary's decision, it was only granted a hearing, but the re-approval for the project was given without giving proper consideration to the EFL's opinion," the sources said. They have questioned why the CEB persisted with hydro-power plants, given the weather dependent disadvantages of the existing plants. According to these sources the expected electricity generation capacity is not worth the large sum of money being spent on them. Therefore, it is questionable why Japan wants to spend a large amount on this project. The CEB General Manager D. G. D. C. Wijeratne told the "Sunday Observer" that since it had received the legal clearance, it would be proceeding with the project in order to accomplish expansion of power generation capacity to the national grid annually at least from 2006. He added that the CEB was forced to acquire expensive oil-fired thermal power as the proposed power projects did not commence on time to meet the forecast demand. "This will be the most economical hydro-power project in the country." "Of the seven water falls which serve as the main sources for the regulated pond, five including two main tourist attractions, St. Clair and Devon, will have a significant impact. The project will not contribute to the drying up of the waterfalls around the area", he said, "But water will be released every half-hour to the falls with the flow being curtailed during the next half an hour for power generation." "Mitigatory measures will protect the aesthetic beauty of the falls, by the release of clean, consistent flow of water down the fall throughout the year," he said. Denying allegations that the project would increase the possibility of earth slides, soil erosion, submerging or flooding in Talawakelle town, Wijeratne said that the project plans were based on the geo-technical advice of the international monitoring organisations. "The plan for the project has identified new locations in close proximity to the existing site for relocation of around 450 families living in Niyangandora. The project costing nearly Rs. 2,420 million is being funded by Japanese Bank for International Corporation (JBIC) and is said to be the largest ever Japanese funding for a Sri Lankan project. |
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