Row over proposed thermal power plant close to sanctuaries

[Mrudul Godbole]

Row over proposed thermal power plant close to sanctuaries
PTI, Jan 6, 2011, 07.59pm IST

BHUBANESWAR: The State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) asked Orissa government to examine the impact of a proposed 135 MW captive thermal power plant close to two wildlife sanctuaries and river systems in the state.

The thermal power plant is proposed to be set up by a private company at a distance of 5.92 km from Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary and 9.94 km Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary.

"The SBWL today decided to set up a sub-committee to examine the impact of the thermal power plant close to the wildlife sanctuaries and river systems," said chief wildlife warden P N Padhi after the second meeting of SBWL chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also in-charge of the forest and environment department.

Though a pair of high tension wire passed over the Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary, the board today agreed not to object to it as there was no major tower inside the sanctuary area, Padhi said.

Some members of the SWLB comprising wildlife experts and MLAs, however, strongly objected to establishment of a thermal power plant near two sanctuaries.

The sub-committee would also examine the impact of proposed Integrated Photo-voltaic System Facility at Ramdaspur village in Cuttack district which was located at adjoining to Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary, Padhi said.

Link - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...ow/7230995.cms

[Sabyasachi Patra]

There is an inaccuracy in the Times of India report. Nandankanan is a biological park (an euphemism for Zoo) and not a wildlife sanctuary. Ofcourse, Nandankanan was set up bordering the chandaka wildlife sanctuary, to provide a natural setting.

According to the rules, the power plant or any polluting industry can't come up within a radius of 10kms of a protected area, sanctuary etc. Further more, the thermal power plant would ruin not only the sanctuary but also the rivers.

In Orissa, we have seen the sad state of the environment in places like Talcher where the thermal power plants have led to high levels of pollution, rise in temperature, and death of waterbodies and high levels of health problems. I hope Chandaka and Bhubaneswar which is about 9kms from the place is spared of this imminent disaster.

Sabyasachi