Chalakudyriver Protection Forum (CPF)

Greetings from Chalakudyriver Protection Forum

We forward herewith the matter of the notice being distributed at Athirappilly during the indefinite strike.

Save forest and river

Save Athirapilli Waterfalls

Join forces with Anti-Athitapilli Project Movement

 

From time immemorial, the majesty and beauty of Athirapilly and Vazhachal waterfalls have enchanted millions of people from all over the world. But the Government of Kerala and the State Electricity Board are blindly insisting upon their decision to implement the Athirapilli project. This Project, if it is implemented, will be the death of both the waterfalls.

 

The authorities have pursued their ‘schemes’ by fielding innumerous lies in the Project documents (revised four times), the two Environmental Impact Studies and through several other documents and submissions. Through this deceit, they went on to ‘manage’ permissions from the Central Forest and Environment Department (thrice) and the Central Electricity Authority (twice).

 

The High Court intervened twice to stall the project, and is considering it for the third time at present.

 

The implementation of the Project is being resisted for the following reasons:

 

• It will destroy 140 Hectares of environmentally strategic forest land.
• It will affect riverside forests of great genetic diversity, vital elephant paths, and rare species of fish, birds, butterflies and other endangered wild life.
• It will displace and uproot 80 families in two settlements of Kadars – the indigenous people of ancient origin. They are found only in this area and solely depend upon the surrounding forests and the river for their survival.
• Jog waterfalls in Saravati river in Karnataka was the biggest falls in South India. Once it became extinct due to the construction of a dam above it, Athirapilli has been holding that position. If Athirapilli hydel project comes into being, 80 per cent of the water flowing to the concerned dam would be diverted through tunnels and only the rest of the water will be allowed to flow down. This will kill both Athirapilli and Vazhachal falls. It will also push hundreds of families who depend upon tourism for their livelihood into unemployment.
• During summer time, in day time, the water flow would be meager for about 22 hours in a day; and during the one or two hours when the water is let out, it would be 17 times more. Even during rainy seasons, the water flow would be erratic. This will wreak havoc with the functioning of the Thumpurmuzhi Irrigation Project which is one of the oldest and most efficient irrigation projects in the state. This in turn will affect irrigation of more than 40,000 acres of land situated in more than 20 local governments in Trichur and Ernakulam districts. It will also severely affect the availability of drinking water in these areas. Moreover, it remains to be seen how such erratic water flow would affect the lives and livelihoods of people who live along the river and depend on various other vocations.

 

 

 

The major ‘benefits’ of this fatal Project are the following:

 

·        Though the installed capacity is 163 MW, it will produce on an average 20 MW of electricity (a mere 12 % capacity). That too, during the monsoon seasons when there is an average rainfall. Even now during rainy season, we are selling more than this amount of electricity outside the state. In Edamalayar, during the summer season, though the installed capacity is 400 million units, production goes down to 60 million units.

·        While the annual recurring expenses for this project (around Rs.1000-1200 crores) on account of repayment of loan, maintenance, salaries etc will work out to Rs 1500 crores, total revenue from sale of electricity will be only around Rs.500 crores! This means the project will impose an additional annual burden of Rs.1000 crores to the Electricity Board, the government, and ultimately us, the people who pay taxes and bear all the burden - financial and environmental.

 

What KSEB should have done

 

• Increase the efficiency of the existing units
• Minimize Transmission & Distribution loss that works out to 22 % during normal hours and 40% during peak hours at present
• Switch over to CFL/LED bulbs and in three years completely do away with ordinary bulbs
• Encourage energy-efficient technologies and machineries in all sectors
• Avoid wastage of electricity

 

If these measures are implemented in the right spirit, it would be easily possible to meet all the electricity requirements of the state up to 2015. Meanwhile, priority should be given to explore the immense potentials of non-conventional energy sources to solve our energy needs in the long run.

 

What you can do

 

• Share some time with the satyagrahis at the satyagraha venue to declare your solidarity with the struggle
• Spread the message of the struggle through your personal and professional networks
• Spread the message of electricity conservation and practice it in your lives
• Make whatever donations you can to meet the expenses to carry this struggle forward
• Write letters to the Chief Minister and other authorities to withdraw from implementation of this project

 

Murari for Chalakudyriver Protection Forum