Nandikur Janajagrithi Samithi’s open letter to NTPC opposing Niddodi UMPP

Nandikur Janajagrithi Samithi’s open letter to NTPC opposing Niddodi UMPP

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 2, 2013: Mangalore Today herewith reproduces the letter written by Balakrishna Shetty, Executive President of the Janajagrithi Samithi, Nandikur  opposing  the proposed Ultra Mega Thermal Power  Project at Niddodi and  the serious repercussions of the implementation of the project on an ecologically sensitive region.
 

 

Dear Sir,
 
Subject: UMPP site proposal at Niddodi, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka
 
This has reference to the news report that the Govt of Karnataka decided to shift the coal based UMPP proposed earlier at Tadadi to Niddodi, Dakshina Kannada district and that the project will be implemented by NPTC.
 
In addition to the objections raised by Shri Shankar Sharma, the renowned Power Policy Analyst, I would like to submit on behalf of the Janajagrithi Samithi (Regd.) Nandikur, our strong objections also as follows for locating the project at Niddodi, in the interest of the general public of the coastal Karnataka:
 
1.      The unique geographical conditions of the thin coastal strip encircled by the Hilly Zones of Western Ghats from almost all the three directions with the Arabian Sea to the West restrict the dispersion of pollutions.
 
2.      Meteorologically low wind speed and high wind calms except during the June-Sept monsoon occurs in the region and consequently the ground level concentration of the pollution would remain high.
 
3.      The low pH (~4) lateritic soil bed occurring in the region is highly porous and with its water regulating characteristics would rapidly contaminate the inter-connected network of the underground aquifers causing crop losses and health impairments.
 
4.      All coals contain Mercury, Cadmium, Lead, Chromium and other heavy metals and non-metal components like Fluorine and Boron etc. A part of the heavy metals and non-metal contaminants like F and B present in coal will be in the fly ash. A large part of the Hg, Pb, As and other heavy metals  as also of non-metals like F & B escape through the stack having been vaporized in the furnaces. The consequent likely impacts e.g. 0.5 mg/kg (or ppm) of Hg in about 40,000MT/day of coal imply 20 kg of Hg discharged every day. If 60% of this or 12kgs/day is discharged in to air, it implies about 4,380kgs/year Hg. Where would this lethal component get deposited and what impacts will it cause? What happens to the remaining 40% or 2,920 kg/year Hg? Where would it end up and what impact would that cause? Does NTPC have any measures to mitigate the impacts of the lethal emissions in such a large quantity in a region with restricted dispersion conditions?
 
5.      The population in the townships at close proximity of about 10-12 km radius (excluding the city of Mangalore which is at 17 km) including Moodbidri, Kinnigoli, Surathkal, and Mulki among others could be close to about 2.0 million, and the health of this large  population will be put at great risk.
 
6.      The clouds in the coastal stretch between Calicut and Panjim float as low as below 1500 feet from the ground level providing the area and the Western Ghats the much needed rains keeping the rivers flowing and providing the water security to the entire southern peninsula. The impact of the massive emissions at about 1,070 tons of pollutant matters other than CO2 on daily basis at a speed of about 94 km/hour with temperature close to 140º DC at the chimney exit point on the natural cloud formation in the region and the consequent effect on the rain pattern is known. No coal based TPP is set up in the coast between Calicut and Panjim until the UPCL, which was also executed without this study. It will be unfair to permit yet another which could totally alter the rain patterns.
 
7.      The aerial distance between the proposed UMPP location and the Mangalore International Airport is only 11km. The massive emission of the flue gases will have high momentum and heat fluxes at the stack exit. Depending on atmospheric conditions, the high momentum and heat fluxes of the power plant flues may carry the flues up to well over 2 km into the atmosphere and will cover a large area. The fluxes will remain high even at the height of over one km and the heated flues may also cause distortion of images viewed through the hot gases due to refraction.
 
8.      The location is too close to the various historical heritage and religious places such as Moodubidri Basadi, Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple among others.
 
9.      The statistics prove that the coastal strip is among the most developed areas of the State and the rate of education is the highest in the State. The high polluting industries are not only unsustainable but are not needed for development of the area.
 
10.  The State of Environment Report prepared by the Government of Karnataka in 2003 in its Action Plan required that there should carrying capacity study of the coastal districts to determine the supportive capacity of the resources and assimilative capacity of the environment, based on which optimum resource allocation can be evolved with long term land use plan for sustainable development and that the Environmental Clearance to projects in the coastal zone may be given only in the background of the findings from such a study. 
 
11.  As a matter of fact NTPC did make a Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment Study and the Environmental Management Plan in the year 1992 for Mangalore Super Thermal Power Project at Nandikur, wherein serious ecological consequences were point out by the Consultants and eventually the project was dropped by NTPC. 
 
12.  Our Samithi has organized the conduct of Kodachadri Ecologically Sensitive Area Study (KESA) and proposed declaration of 15,000 km2 of the Western Ghats including the part of the coastal region as Ecologically Sensitive Area to MoEF and the same has already been accepted by the WGEEP Panel chaired by Prof. Madhav Gadgil, which has already submitted its report to the Ministry. The study clearly establishes that TPP even with FGD is not sustainable in the area. A copy in a CD can be provided if required.
 
It is therefore, well settled that the region is neither the load center nor can it ecologically sustain such a high polluting industry.  As stated by Mr. Sharma, a national level enterprise like NTPC should be honestly looking at credible ways and means of reducing our GHG emissions than increasing it and burdening our society with unbearable costs. On the other hand it could also develop renewable energy projects in the area for the area.
 
Will appreciate hearing from you soon with your clarification.
 
Thanking you,
 
                                                                        Yours faithfully,
                                                                        Balakrishna Shetty
                                                                        Executive President.