Sampur Power Project draws local ire:

Opposed!

by Rukshana Rizwie

Land levelling and fencing at the controversial 500 megawatt proposed coal power plant has begun in Sampur, Trincomalee. Authoritative sources at the Ministry of Power and Energy told the Sunday Observer that the project has hit an unexpected snag. Fierce opposition from environmentalists and residents lobbying for a relocation of the plant were unfavorable and could bring construction work to a grinding halt.

Road leading to the controversial power plant

Shrub land in close proximity

Picturesque Koddiyar Bay

The proposed site for the plant

"The parameters of the project are unknown; people felt that their lands were being encroached by the state who pledged it to India for the project and the boundaries have been bulldozed," said T.Gopahan, an activist who heads the People's Forum Against the Sampur Power Plant in Trincomalee.

At present 515 acres in Sampur have been designated as the proposed site for the coal power plant. The power plant is a joint venture between the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) of India and is expected to be linked to the national grid by 2017.

Restricted access

Gopahan said three undred families who live within the 100m buffer zone of the proposed site have filed cases on the demarcation. "300 families live in the Kadakkarachennai village which would be the entrance to the proposed site. Based on the survey by the Green Trincomalee Movement, we found that 30 families will lose their lands partially and 40 will have restricted access to the coast," he said.

"For years this resilient community managed on their own," he said. "They engaged in agricultural activities, depended on 10 feet wells in the backyard, while animal husbandry was their main source of income,"he said.

Opposition leader and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) chief R.Sampanthan said the matter was very much on his mind. "I am told of the impact the plant will have on the community's livelihood, the substantial environmental and health hazards," he said. "I am concerned. being a representative in Parliament from the Trincomalee district I wasn't consulted."

Sampanthan said that he would take up the matter with the relevant authorities in the coming days."The project and this process needs to be thoroughly thought out," he said.

Gopahan said the process has not been transparent nor interactive because residents and environmentalists were not consulted. "When the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was prepared in 2011 there were not many people in the area. Paddy fields and tanks were abandoned," he said. "The EIA did not factor the number of people, their livelihood or the fisher folk."

The Central Environment Authority (CEA) after a lapse of over a year, granted approval under stringent conditions for the power plant project to begin operations last month. Chairman of the CEA Prof. Lal Dharmasiri said the CEA was closely monitoring the project. He added the CEA's approval was granted after a study of the EIA Report by the Trincomalee Power Company Limited.

The EIA of the plant suggests several changes to the initial project but does not delve deeply into the environmental issues or impacts the plant will have on the livelihood of residents nearby.

Under 'social aspects,' the EIA cites that people directly affected due to the project should be compensated. The project proponent is also requested to ensure that existing fishing and fisheries activities were not disturbed and any impact should be compensated. The EIA also states that fisherfolk in the area should be made aware of the impact of the plant.

"The villagers have not been told by the project proponent but they well aware of the effect this plant will have on their health," Gopahan said. "The contamination of ground water and the environmental effect on aquatic species are real and lethal."

Austin Fernando, Governor of the Eastern Province said he was yet to be told of the adverse effect the plant would have on the community. "I have heard that people are protesting against the initiating of the plant," he said. "I've not been approached personally, neither do I know in detail the effect this plant will have on the people,"he said.

Cumulative impact

When we asked the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy on the matter, he said "The problems were resolved, because the EIA had cleared those doubts.""If that's not the case, then it's only wise for the people to come forward with their grievances."

Representatives of the Environmental Foundation Limited(EFL) who toured the site say the EIA does not include the cumulative impact on the agricultural fields and the quality of air to which these residents will be exposed to.

A report on their assessment cites that heavy metals and smog from the plant will affect air quality causing while disposing of the sludge from the scrubbers will cause an accumulation of heavy metals and radioactive elements in dumping sites. The chemicals in the sludge will then leach into the ground water, affecting people for generations to come.

According to US-based Union of Concerned Scientists a 500 MW coal fired plant will annually release 10,000 tons of Sulfur Dioxide (the main cause of acid rain); 10,200 tons of Nitrogen Oxide, which causes smog; 3.7 million tones of CO2, a leading cause of global warning; 500 tons of small particles which cause lung damage; 720 tons of Carbon Monoxide, which causes global warming and 2.2 billion tons of warm water, which when released into the sea will bleach corals and destroy marine life.

In a letter addressed to President Maithripala Sirisena highlighting these concerns, EFL noted the project contradicts the government's policy of a 'Blue-Green Era' which pledges to fight global warming and adopt low carbon emission.

When authorities of the the Trincomalee Power Company were contacted on Friday, Managing Director, Praveen Saxena was reportedly in India on an official visit regarding the project.

Photos: EFL

Environment Foundation assessment

• Emissions from coal combustion will produces harmful compounds, including Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrocarbons, Carbon monoxide and several heavy metals such as Mercury, Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and even quantities of Uranium and Thorium.

• Scientific evidence shows that the fly ashes produced by the plant contain radiation.

• Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen oxides are the primary cause of acid rain. The proposed location of the coal plant is in the path of the northeast monsoon, causing winds to carry the acid rain into the central hills

• The rivers that flow into the northeast originate from the mountains, and will carry acid and fly ash-laden water to the agricultural areas.

• The EIA Report does not include the cumulative impact on the agricultural fields and the quality of air to which these IDPs will be exposed.

• The acid rain, fly ash and smog will affect most important cultural monuments in the Cultural Triangle such as the Stupas, Sigiriya, Namal Uyana to name a few.

• Disposing of the sludge from the scrubbers will cause an accumulation of heavy metals and radioactive elements in dumping sites.

• The proposed power plant will use up to 90,000 m3 of water per hour to produce steam and for cooling the system after generating electricity. Sea water from Koddiyar Bay will be used for this process and discharged into Shell Bay, which has a very high biodiversity and supports a very sensitive marine ecosystem. Even a slight rise in the temperature is proven to cause damage to the corals.

A constant release of high temperature water into the Bay could irreversibly damage this ecosystem.

Source: EFL