N’CHOLAI ECO LICENCE WITHHELD
By Rukshana Rizwie
The renewal of the Environmental Protection License (EPL) for the Lak
Vijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai for this year has been delayed
following the Central Environment Authority (CEA) taking over the
assessments from the North Western Environment Protection Authority due
to environmental concerns, the Sunday Observer reliably learns.
“Since Norochcholai Power Plant is a national project, a decision was
reached for the CEA to review, monitor and make the necessary
assessments before issuing a renewed license,” said Dr. Sanjaya
Rathnayake, who heads the Pollution Control Unit at the CEA. “We feel
that the NWEPA does not have the technical knowledge or capability to do
this assessment.”
Dr Rathnayake added that the CEA will do the necessary checks and
balances before issuing a renewed license, which would take a month to
be finalized. “We have one set of mobile measuring equipment in use
since the other one is malfunctioning. We have to conduct a lot of
tests, which will take time.”
He also added that there are no implications of the non-renewal on
the operations of the power plant unless a complaint is filed, after
which industries operating without EPL are normally shut down.
“We applied for a renewal of the EPL over three months ago, we were
told that we would receive it this week, so far we haven’t and no
explanation was given for the delay,” an engineer at the Norochcholai
Power Plant told the Sunday Observer.
Sources told the Sunday Observer that while the reasons for the delay
were unclear, there had been questions over the environmental impact of
the plant which has not been appropriately managed or addressed by the
Ceylon Electricity Board in the recent past. This includes the spread of
dry ash to nearby villages and plantations and the spillage of coal
which has resulted in the loss of livelihood for fisherfolk in the area.
According to the National Environment Acts No 56 of 1988 and No 53 of
2000 obtaining the Environmental Protection License (EPL) from the
Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is mandatory for the power
generation sector.
Along with the EPL, the Norochcholai plant should also obtain the
Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) from the NWPE for the
coal-fired power plant since it is located in North Western Provincial
Council area.
The CEC mentions that there are certain emissions standards which
have to be maintained by the plant. A renewal of the EPL is considered
as an indication that the plant is in line with the prevailing
environmental regulations.
Dr. Suren Batagoda, Secretary to the Ministry of Power and renewable
energy, when contacted, was not available for comment on the issue. |