People hail more power projects

 by Ananda Kannangara

The Government considering the needs of the people have earmarked, new power generating projects to combat future power crises. The construction of 300 MW Multi Fuel Operated Combined Cycle Power Plant (MFOCCPP) at Kerawalapitiya is a fine example. The Sunday Observer last week sought the views of people at Kerawalapitiya, Muthurajawela, Wattala and the surrounding areas on their views of this new power project which will be commissioned in 2008.

Here are the excerpts:

A trishaw driver in Kerawalapitiya Nihal Peris commended the new power plant and said residents in the vicinity should be provided with housing and other facilities at safer places before they are evacuated."

A twenty-nine-year old bakery owner P.S. Siripala said, "The Environmental Authority has already carried out a feasibility study if there is no harm to the residents.

"It is not necessary for the CEB to seek permission from residents, if they are being provided with houses in other areas," he said.

A newspaper seller Diyonis Silva said that when the authorities evacuate us from our original dwellings shortly to construct this power project, we not only lose our houses and lands, but also our livelihood.

"Therefore, I request the officials to consider some financial assistance to start our business and also houses," he said.

Sarath Kankanamge of Bopitiya said: "I hail the Government's decision of constructing this plant.

"Therefore the authorities must go ahead with their plans, ignoring the protests and agitation of residents considering this a national need," he said.

A thirty-four-year old mother Kaladevi Buwanaka of Dikowita said that people normally conduct protest campaigns against the construction of power plants thinking that they highly pollute the environment."

"Therefore the best thing is to go ahead with the construction work without considering the people's protests. It is also the duty of officials to provide the affected residents with lands and houses of their choice."

Sumathi Alahakoon said, "I am not against the construction of the power project considering it as a national need."

A boutique owner, Renuka Priyadharshani said that due to the construction of the new power plant she will lose nearly fifty perches of land.

"It is true that our country needs power projects for future development activities, but at the same time the authorities must think about our livelihood and provide financial relief to cover our losses," she said.

A mother of two, R.D. Ratnawali said that she would lose her boutique and a part of the land due to the widening of the road to the power project. "However, I welcome the power plant as its a national need, but the authorities have still not taken action to pay us compensation," she said.

K. Livinis Somasiri (58) said that he had been running a small hotel for schoolchildren for the past 18 years without any valid document to prove his ownership.

"The authorities informed us that they would demolish it to widen the road which leads to the power project," he said. He called upon the authorities to provide him with new place without considering the legal ownership of the present place.

A vegetable boutique owner, Kusuma Mallika said that they were informed that new places would be given soon after the construction work of the new power plant begins. "But we have not yet been given anything, therefore we ask the authorities to provide us houses in safe places, and we could also do our business," she said.

A thirty-eight-year old vegetable seller Shantha Kumara welcomed the new power plant, but regretted that they had not been paid compensation.

A boutique owner, P.D. Rose Mary said that she is ready to demolish her boutique and the small house, and asked that adequate time and financial assistance be given to build a house elsewhere.

A 15-year-old schoolgirl Wasanthi Samarappuli said when officials informed them about the acquisition of their house and land her father died after sometime as he could not bear the pain.

Meanwhile, a senior CEB Engineer of the Kerawalapitiya power plant, said that twenty-nine families living in the vicinity of the Kerawalapitiya power plant, will be evacuated to other places after the construction work begins.

"However, we have already commenced the earth filling work at the site and we will be providing the victimised families with lands and houses before their houses are demolished.

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