Government's Role as a protector of cherished Heritage...
The proposed 1000 MW Thermal Power Plant at Chamalapura is supposed to alleviate the power shortage in Karnataka State. No doubt, there is acute power deficit in the State with respect to Demand and supply.
However, it is wise to keep the overall picture in perspective. Comparisons are made with Raichur with regard to the aftereffects stressing that the environmental effects would be minimal. However, the following facts may be noted.
Without comparing Raichur Thermal Project, an objective analysis of the adverse effect on taking up Chamalapura Thermal Project has been attempted. Despite whatever decision that has been taken we would urge the government to bestow urgent and serious attention to the issue on which NGOs, citizens and the farmers affected have protested vehemently. The following facts speak for themselves.
1. Hoary history of Mysore
Mysore has a magnificent history dating to early part of 5th century A.D. The spiritual, cultural heritage on one hand and the architectural and diversity of nature’s bounty in terms of forestry and the wild life surrounding the city on the other, makes Mysore one of the most sought-after tourists spots and is the backbone of thriving tourism Industry. The Dasara festival is a result of centuries of culture put together now. The environmental impact will affect tourism Industry in many ways apart from other disastrous results which are enumerated below.
2. Palaces and Heritage Buildings:
With an estimated emission of SO2 Of 180 Tons per day and NO2, 50 Tons per day, Solid Particulate Matter of 5 Tons per day, Ash of 6000 tons per day,CO2 7.5 Million tons per year and finally of 5000 tons of ash per day blowing across Mysore, the bounty of nature will vanish in just few years. To give an example, the engineering marvel of Palace structures has mainly lime stone and sand. The gases and dust will gradually corrode the surface,discolour the facade and weaken the structure. What elements did not do for centuries, the power plant will do it in few years. Finest of Electrostaic Precipitators cannot trap dust particle ( less than 65 microgram) which permeate and corrode all surfaces over a period of time. Are our Tourism Ministry experts and Secretary, Heritage commissioner and INTACH are convinced that nothing will happen to the august structures? Have the scion of the Wadiyars been consulted whose forefathers were the original builders of this great city?
3. Forestry and wildlife:
Mysore has all along been famous for its Khedda operation and now for wildlife Safari in Bandipur and Nagerhole Tiger sanctuaries. This is again the backbone of tourism Industry and the erstwhile rulers protected and nurtured this for centuries. Has the Government consulted its own experts in Forest Department and wild life experts, some of them world-renowned, for its impact of Thermal Plant? Should the Government fritter away centuries of a healthy and very rich environment, unmindful of fears of general public and not even consult experts who will stand faithful to their profession and give their considered opinion?
4. Human and aquatic life:
Apart from above harmful effects, the effect on human and birdlife cannot be minimized. Apart from exposure to these gases, they will get much worse in winter due to temperature inversion. There is no doubt large populace will be exposed to respiratory problems from air pollution due to coal dust and acid rain. There will be heavy impact on flora and fauna and the impact on soil will hit the agricultural crops. Why have the Government not consulted the Public health specialists and Agricultural Scientists on the Environmental Impact. Finally, mercury traces of radioactive minerals are already proved as forerunner of carcinogens leading to cancer. Why have the leading oncologists in the State not consulted before launching this project?
There is no doubt power is a real problem and efforts have to be made to enhance the same. But in our anxiety, to get over cold, we should not cut off the nose.
We have not once touched on the human problem of displacement of people which causes untold large-scale miseries. But do we have the right to erase history of a city running for centuries by hacking its rich spiritual, cultural, bountiful forests, wild life, rivers, agriculture without as much as a discussion of the experts in a myriad field who have spent lifetime studying the same.
If all of them agree in unison with the Government, it should go ahead with the project. The least any responsible Government, any responsive Government should do is call for such a meeting and take an unbiased overall view before taking a decision.
History will applaud a person, a Government for having the courage to listen to all aspects of a problem from the experts, look at it from all sides, and satisfy itself fully that it is protecting its treasured heritage inherited by it, before arriving at a decision.
We believe such a situation has come up in Mysore.We call upon our leaders to rise to the occasion.
………………..
H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana Mysore
E.R. Ramachandran
Krishna Vattam August 18, 2007
T.S.Satyan
K.Manu
However, it is wise to keep the overall picture in perspective. Comparisons are made with Raichur with regard to the aftereffects stressing that the environmental effects would be minimal. However, the following facts may be noted.
Without comparing Raichur Thermal Project, an objective analysis of the adverse effect on taking up Chamalapura Thermal Project has been attempted. Despite whatever decision that has been taken we would urge the government to bestow urgent and serious attention to the issue on which NGOs, citizens and the farmers affected have protested vehemently. The following facts speak for themselves.
1. Hoary history of Mysore
Mysore has a magnificent history dating to early part of 5th century A.D. The spiritual, cultural heritage on one hand and the architectural and diversity of nature’s bounty in terms of forestry and the wild life surrounding the city on the other, makes Mysore one of the most sought-after tourists spots and is the backbone of thriving tourism Industry. The Dasara festival is a result of centuries of culture put together now. The environmental impact will affect tourism Industry in many ways apart from other disastrous results which are enumerated below.
2. Palaces and Heritage Buildings:
With an estimated emission of SO2 Of 180 Tons per day and NO2, 50 Tons per day, Solid Particulate Matter of 5 Tons per day, Ash of 6000 tons per day,CO2 7.5 Million tons per year and finally of 5000 tons of ash per day blowing across Mysore, the bounty of nature will vanish in just few years. To give an example, the engineering marvel of Palace structures has mainly lime stone and sand. The gases and dust will gradually corrode the surface,discolour the facade and weaken the structure. What elements did not do for centuries, the power plant will do it in few years. Finest of Electrostaic Precipitators cannot trap dust particle ( less than 65 microgram) which permeate and corrode all surfaces over a period of time. Are our Tourism Ministry experts and Secretary, Heritage commissioner and INTACH are convinced that nothing will happen to the august structures? Have the scion of the Wadiyars been consulted whose forefathers were the original builders of this great city?
3. Forestry and wildlife:
Mysore has all along been famous for its Khedda operation and now for wildlife Safari in Bandipur and Nagerhole Tiger sanctuaries. This is again the backbone of tourism Industry and the erstwhile rulers protected and nurtured this for centuries. Has the Government consulted its own experts in Forest Department and wild life experts, some of them world-renowned, for its impact of Thermal Plant? Should the Government fritter away centuries of a healthy and very rich environment, unmindful of fears of general public and not even consult experts who will stand faithful to their profession and give their considered opinion?
4. Human and aquatic life:
Apart from above harmful effects, the effect on human and birdlife cannot be minimized. Apart from exposure to these gases, they will get much worse in winter due to temperature inversion. There is no doubt large populace will be exposed to respiratory problems from air pollution due to coal dust and acid rain. There will be heavy impact on flora and fauna and the impact on soil will hit the agricultural crops. Why have the Government not consulted the Public health specialists and Agricultural Scientists on the Environmental Impact. Finally, mercury traces of radioactive minerals are already proved as forerunner of carcinogens leading to cancer. Why have the leading oncologists in the State not consulted before launching this project?
There is no doubt power is a real problem and efforts have to be made to enhance the same. But in our anxiety, to get over cold, we should not cut off the nose.
We have not once touched on the human problem of displacement of people which causes untold large-scale miseries. But do we have the right to erase history of a city running for centuries by hacking its rich spiritual, cultural, bountiful forests, wild life, rivers, agriculture without as much as a discussion of the experts in a myriad field who have spent lifetime studying the same.
If all of them agree in unison with the Government, it should go ahead with the project. The least any responsible Government, any responsive Government should do is call for such a meeting and take an unbiased overall view before taking a decision.
History will applaud a person, a Government for having the courage to listen to all aspects of a problem from the experts, look at it from all sides, and satisfy itself fully that it is protecting its treasured heritage inherited by it, before arriving at a decision.
We believe such a situation has come up in Mysore.We call upon our leaders to rise to the occasion.
………………..
H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana Mysore
E.R. Ramachandran
Krishna Vattam August 18, 2007
T.S.Satyan
K.Manu
posted by ER Ramachandran at
8:57 AM
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