Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jul 4: Balakrishna Shetty from Yellur, who runs a trading business in traffic safety systems in Dubai, has written to the UNESCO, France expressing grave concerns over the damage to Western Ghats, a World Heritage Site, that is likely to be caused by the expansion of Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) power plant.
In a letter addressed to the secretariat of World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, Balakrishna Shetty, who has been actively participating in environment protection activities in his hometown, has pointed out that the 'coal-based thermal power plant by Udupi Power Corporation Ltd in our village of Yellur of Udupi district in the west coast of India, is posing serious threat not only to the local environment but to the Western Ghats as well.
"It has already commissioned 2 units each of 600 MW (1200 MW) and now planning expansion with 2 more units of 800 MW each, that is, with 1,600 MW to make the ultimate capacity to 2800 MW in a sensitive location close to the Western Ghats and that too by using sea water without desalination."
Shetty also recalled UNESCO's description of the Western Ghats when granting it the World Heritage status, wherein UNESCO had noted that the Western Ghats, older than the Himalayas, was of 'immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes', whose 'high montane forest ecosystems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern'. The UNESCO had also pointed out that the site presented 'one of the best examples of the monsoon system on the planet' with 'an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism'. "The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of nonequatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species," the UNESCO had said, adding that of the total 325 globally threatened species in the Western Ghats, 129 are classified as vulnerable, 145 as endangered and 51 as critically endangered.
Shetty further stated, "There are some 37 court cases pending, some of them since 2005, against the project at various including those based on the grounds of environmental sustainability. Ownership of the plant has changed hands quite often. However, the present owners of the project being highly influential are planning the expansion that would destroy not only the coast but impair the unique biodiversity of Western Ghats. It would appear that with its money and man power the ignorant farmers are either tempted with cash or forced to surrender their lands.
"As per various expert studies including by NEERI, environmental degradation locally would impair theWestern Ghats as well due to various features of the region. Surprisingly the power is not required for the coastal belt but is transmitted to Bengaluru and other cities on the leeward side of the Ghats. The transmission lines were taken through the RF of the Western Ghats after felling over 30,000 trees in the villages and RF (reserve forest). The expansion will require more forest land for transmission also apart from the environmental impact from plant emissions.
"Despite best efforts by groups of people, a number of expert studies including by the top institutions of the country NEERI, IISC and others, a number of representations to the ministry of environment and forest and various other authorities and filing court cases, the expansion also is likely to go through, and that would be an environmental catastrophe," the letter stated.
Shetty also raised concerns over the controversial Yettinahole project that has been vociferously opposed by environmentalists in the region.
"Unfortunately, that is not all, about 35 km towards the south from the power plant, a river called Netravati that flows down the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea is being diverted by building a dam and in addition to huge earth movement vast forest is destroyed for the purpose. If immediate action is not taken the corrupt intentions would win and the unique biodiversity of the Western Ghats and the people in general lose," he stated.
Urging UNESCO to intervene in the above matters, Shetty stated, "I would therefore request you to use your good office and direct the government of India not only to refrain from expanding the power plant but to shift the existing to the leeward side of the Western Ghats where the power is required and rehabilitate the damages caused to the World Heritage site. The local energy requirement being small can be met by putting up districtwise, talukwise or even villagewise solar plants."