Tadadi project
Text of letter sent to the press
The proposal for the 4000 MW, coal based, super thermal power project at Tadadi (North Kanara) makes neither any economic sense, nor any sense viewed from the environmental angle.
The NTPC - Power Grid Corpn tie-up has already shown the almost perfect route to solving the supply side of the problem. Between them, they are in a position to generate (in pit-head super thermal power stations along the Eastern coal belt) and supply as much power as you want in any corner of the country at the cheapest possible rates. All they want is that you arrange to pay them on time. But, because the KPTCL is not in a position to do that, and the government refuses to release it from its clutches to enable it to organise itself to do that, in pursuance of its cross-subsidy policy in the name of Socialism, the government is having to come up with all these hare-brained schemes.
The simple solution is to hand over power distribution in the cities to companies like TATA's and Reliance, and in the rural areas to co-operatives like the one we have in Hukeri (Belgaum district), and they will in quick time organise themselves to pay on time, and everything will fall in place thereafter. There will no longer arise the need to ship / cart coal from far off places, burn it in the verdant Karnataka coastal region, and muck up the environment in the process.
But, apparently, the government believes in promoting mega projects, and not in solving problems.
The proposal for the 4000 MW, coal based, super thermal power project at Tadadi (North Kanara) makes neither any economic sense, nor any sense viewed from the environmental angle.
The NTPC - Power Grid Corpn tie-up has already shown the almost perfect route to solving the supply side of the problem. Between them, they are in a position to generate (in pit-head super thermal power stations along the Eastern coal belt) and supply as much power as you want in any corner of the country at the cheapest possible rates. All they want is that you arrange to pay them on time. But, because the KPTCL is not in a position to do that, and the government refuses to release it from its clutches to enable it to organise itself to do that, in pursuance of its cross-subsidy policy in the name of Socialism, the government is having to come up with all these hare-brained schemes.
The simple solution is to hand over power distribution in the cities to companies like TATA's and Reliance, and in the rural areas to co-operatives like the one we have in Hukeri (Belgaum district), and they will in quick time organise themselves to pay on time, and everything will fall in place thereafter. There will no longer arise the need to ship / cart coal from far off places, burn it in the verdant Karnataka coastal region, and muck up the environment in the process.
But, apparently, the government believes in promoting mega projects, and not in solving problems.
posted by Muralidhar Rao at
11:32 PM
2 Comments:
Exchanges with Mr N (a member of a Bangalore-based ‘greens’ Yahoo Group)
Response received on12/05 to a posting made to the group
Dear Muralidhar Rao,
Thanks for sending that excellent letter to the press. Word for word, your letter makes eminent sense and is there a way to make the govt see sense ?
The four swamijis are making a strong effort to stop this and if there is a way to support their protest, it would be great.
cheers,
N
Response sent same day
Dear N
Thanks for expressing appreciation of my views. But, then, why didn't you do it through the group mail? If you want to contribute to preventing that monstrosity from happening, and simultaneously also offer a way out of the unending power problem, you got to propagate the thought, starting with our own group. Or are you afraid the Socialists in the group will pounce on you for supporting the suggestion of handing over of the power supply to TATA's and Reliance?
Now, dear N, there are simple solutions to all the problems in this country. Given our resources, we can be a great economic power in no time at all, and wipe out poverty totally. The problem is the Socialistic mindset of the people (including in our group), which the politicians are exploiting to serve their ends. So, I have made it my mission to counter Socialism at every given opportunity. Would you like to join, please? That is the only way to save not just our coast line, but the entire country from the plunderers. TATA's and Reliance can also plunder (Reliance more than TATA's). But, they are sensitive to criticism, whereas the political plunderers have too thick a hide, and nothing can hold them back.
Regards, Muralidhar Rao
2nd response received on 15/05
Dear Muralidhar Rao,
Sometimes I prefer private conversations to public debates and I do get into full-blown debates when I feel there would be some definite outcome (read action) of it.
I don't believe in any -ism (communism, socialism,...) and I don't believe in any -z/sation (nationalization, privatization) as a solution to all problems of a problem set. I do/support/campaign for/advocate what I feel makes sense to me and as I go along, may get similar-minded people working together, but that's optional.
Your views on the Tadadi project had very strong irrefutable points - first, it will not ecological sense; second, we have enough power supply and the demand-side and distribution are the ones that need to be managed - to see the amount of power wastage, one can just take a look at Bangalore and need not go beyond Bangalore. For e.g SV lamps, as I understood from one of my profs during BTech in the '80s, were
found to be better because they emit softer light, give less glare, consume less power to give roughly the same amount of light and are more eco-friendly (don't have mercury) than MV lamps. But what's the BMP doing ? They are installing MV lamps again!!
Privatisation may solve some problems in certain areas and in the case of Karnataka, it may give better results. Depending on the private player, the accountability may be better or worse than the govt agencies. Difficult to comment. I know that power
supply and transporation (bus) in Mumbai are better because of the accountability the private player involved and the active, demanding nature of the Mumbai public.
OTOH, Evo Morales, the 'native' president of Bolivia, correctly in my opinion, has declared on May day that the govt will take control of all the natural resources from the private players (mostly foreign companies). I feel it's a right decision because for
more than a century, that country's resources have been exploited mostly by foreign companies without any benefits for their people. So, I don't believe in generalization either (it also ends with -zation).
As for joining any campaign against any -ism, I wouldn't because I don't believe in any -ism. I just go by what I feel is right, on a case by case basis. I only believe in sustainable living and being sensitive to the environment.
If I sit and write, I would keep writing pages and pages but the above para should summarize my simple principle, I hope.
cheers,
N
Response sent on16/05
Hi N
OK. You don't need to join me now in any campaign, though I expect you will be compelled to own your own once you understand the gravity of the situation.
All I am suggesting is that you record your appreciation of the views publicly, atleast to the extent where you personally are sure on the author's position.
Now, you can't make a comparison between Bolivia and India. India is a vibrant democracy today, with a very vigilant press and civil society. The India of a few decades back was also manipulated by the likes of Dhirubhai Ambani, quite possibly like Bolivia is being plundered by their 'crony capitalists'. Today, in India, it's more and more TATA's, Infosys, and the like that are on the ascendancy, and even the Ambani's are begining to play according to the new rules of the game. There's healthy competition, prices are dropping, quality is improving - what more can you ask for?
Well, beyond that, it's upto you.
Regards, Muralidhar Rao
By
Muralidhar Rao, at 11:23 PM
Exchanges with an energy expert (whose talk, at an Industry Chamber gathering, I had attended, following which I had mailed him my views)
Response received on 13/05/06
Dear Mr. Muralidhar Rao,
Thanks for the update. Please let me know who sent this note to the press, when and under what context.
I do not fully subscribe to the content of the press note in view of the unviability of plan to supply power to all sections of our society on a sustainable basis through large size power stations, whether coal based, gas based, nuclear powered or dam based. The issues involved in such projects whether close to the source of primary fuel or far away from the source, are so immense that they cannot be acceptable to our society whether on a short term basis or on sustainable basis.
However, it is nice to know that the press note has condemned the proposal to set up a highly polluting project in prestine coastal Karnataka adjacent to thick bio-diversity hotspots on Western Ghats. What we need is a rational integrated energy policy based on high level of efficiency, accountability and environmental friendliness on a sustainable basis.
Thanks once again for your e-mail.
Regards
S
My response sent on 15/05/06
Dear Mr S
Thermal power plants are decidedly the most cost-effective means of large scale power generation in the country today. Now, whether it is a small, medium, large or super size project, there is decidedly a certain extent of impact on the community where the plant is located. Rather than have a number of communities affected across the country, wouldn't it be better if a few select communities located (unfortunately for them) along the coal belt are re-located and rehabilitated, and super thermal projects set up there, to benefit from economies of scale also, to feed power to the rest of the country? The NTPC - Power Grid HVDC link between Talcher (NTPC's super thermal generating station in Orissa) and Chintamani (Power Grid's HV distribution node for South India, some 50 KM outside Bangalore) has emphatically shown that huge quantum of power can be evacuated to the far-of load centres in the most efficient, cost-effective, and least eco-unfriendly manner. So, isn't that the most sensible option available, Sir?
Regards, Muralidhar Rao
By
Muralidhar Rao, at 4:24 AM
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