A thousand say NO to coal in Maharashtra
Alibaug Taluka, India – Close to a thousand villagers stood for hours in the formation of a life-size human windmill near Khidki village in Alibag, in what could well be the largest protest for renewable energy in India to date.
July 30, 2009: Over 1000 residents from villages in the Alibag taluka in Maharashtra gather to take part in a giant human art formation of a windmill, to voice their opposition to coal fired power plants planned in the region. The Maharashtra government is considering plans to approve 10,000 MW of new coal power plants by the Reliance, TATA, ISPAT and Patni groups. 60% of India's power currently comes from coal, the major cause of climate change. India needs to shift away from a fossil fuel based energy pathway to greener sustainable energy options.
They were demanding that the Maharashtra Government drop plans to build 10,000MW coal-fired thermal power plants in the region and explore renewable energy instead. The villagers said they were committed to fight the acquisition of their fertile land for coal-based power plants.
“We believe that the energy planned from these coal plants is dirty. It can come instead from clean alternatives like wind and solar energy, and by using energy more efficiently. We will not give up our land and our future to these mega power plants that will pollute our air, land, and water. We will not allow them to ruin our children’s future by adding to the problem of climate change,” said Dr Vishnu P. Mhatre of the Naugaon Sangharsh Samiti, one of the organisations fighting for clean energy here.
The community is opposing plans to set up thermal power plants over 8,500 acres of fertile land. The companies involved are the Tata Power Company Limited (1,200MW) and the Maharashtra Energy Generation Limited, a Reliance subsidiary, (4,000MW) at Shahpur in Alibag. The Patni group (500MW) and the Ispat group (2,000MW) want to set up their plants in the adjacent Medekhad Khadi.
For more than four years, the villagers have been resisting attempts by the government and the companies to acquire their land. “We do not oppose production of energy. But, we strongly demand that the Government of India change its energy pathway and move towards decentralised renewable energy, which will be used locally for agro-based industries and domestic needs,” said Satish Londhe, a resident of Alibag and state coordinator of the Shramik Mukti Dal.
To prove their solution-oriented approach, the citizens later joined in setting up a wind station. Admiral Ramdas, a Magsaysay awardee and a resident of Alibag, inaugurated the “Citizens’ Wind Monitoring Station” where the residents would record the area’s wind potential through an anemometer. This would show that the region has huge potential for wind energy, and challenge the government’s inaction in investing in alternate energies.
“Policymakers in the central and state governments need to explore the possibility of renewable resources like the wind, the sun, and other agents before rushing to coal for energy. In the current environment of global concern over climate change, we must also look critically at the operational efficiency of our power plants and increase energy efficiency in all sectors. This will ensure a dramatic reduction in our energy demand,” Ramdas asserted.
Maitree Dasgupta, Climate Campaigner with Greenpeace India, said: “This protest is a sign of popular opposition fomenting against coal in India, which will only grow. This not a fight against growth or development. It is just the opposite. It is a fight for building energy infrastructure for the future instead of relying on dinosaur technologies. India can get 35% of its power from renewable energy by 2030. We have the ability and technical capacity; we only need the political will.”
Greenpeace India is demanding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh put in place a National Renewable Energy Bill no later than 2010, which would enable a shift towards a more sustainable energy pathway. This implies that the draft bill be made public this year for debate before placing it for parliamentary approval. It would also provide a framework for the Solar Mission and show that India is serious about the mission. More than 50,000 Indians have already signed Greenpeace India petitions demanding a response on this from Manmohan Singh.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:55 am
make solar technology cheaper
November 4th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Are they really stupid or what?? These politicians really live in the 1800s. Why the hell would they want to build a coal plant when they see all around them impact of climate change?
The government should start giving subsidies to companies promoting alternative energy. There is so much sun in India (unlike UK, where you would not even be able to heat water with solar power), I think they could invest more on research on how to harness the natural energy sources more efficiently. Instead they want to build nuclear and coal power plants.
That is why I think this really is the “AGE OF THE STUPID”.
November 4th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
These politicians really live in the world where they are just doing whatever give them easy popularity and a so called “MRIG-MARICHIKA” OF DATA
TO BEFOOL OUR COUNTRY’S PEOPLE.
It’s evidient that coal power genration has a efficiency factor of only 30 to 35% besides wast Global warming impact and recurring maintainance cost.
but GOVERNMENT never bother,
whether it’s matter of coal based power plants or very HUGE SUBSIDY FOR INORGANIC FERTILIZER.
Why government is not looking to start giving REALLY WORKABLE subsidies to companies promoting alternative energy.Instead to build nuclear and coal power plants.
Just providing these subsidies to promote a decentralize system for electricity genration through diffrent alternative energy systems See only biogas, where a number of good innovative techhnologies are available ,WHICH WILL BE AT ONE END SOLVE THE HUGE PROBLOME OF WASTE may be MSW OR AGRICULTURAL RESIDUE ,WHICH IF, HAS TO LOOK AS A RESOURCE FOR ENERGY & FERTILIZER AND A PROPER SETUP CAN MEETOUT ALMOST 65% OUR BOTH THE NEED.BESIDES A BETTER SANITATION,HYGIEN,HEALTH AND MUCH CLEAN ENVIROMENT
Thats why a positive approach can entire change our future.
November 4th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/technologychallenge/announcements.asp is where one of my several carbon/emission reducing ideas is listed. The UK based Low Carbon Vehicle association has confirmed its ability to reduce emission. The same idea has been lying with Department of Science and Technology for last 2 years and they have taken no efforts on it.
I am fighting with the heads of the science departments to take a stand on climate change and environment related researches. Afterall politicians can’t reduce emissions without the help of science.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:18 am
We should also remember the fact that transmission losses are one of the highest in India …. A decentralized approach to power generation will also cut down these transmission losses.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
as india is a developing country it can adopt green energy for its power requirments & can create an example for other countries to follow it.
As India have to lead the world!
November 19th, 2009 at 11:21 am
19/11/09:
Here is again a politicalface of the issue;-not a scientific or natural. With bipolar personality development, the latest psychological sickness demoralising the Humanity, people do talk something but do nothing that way.
They do only that which is possible within the incumbent constrains. Economy of a nation depends on its economic resources available at a costs which the economic participant can affored. Coal ia an economic resources which ALL productive entities in India afford. If the Coal is turned into a cleaner electricity production, the cost of the consumption could be beyond the consumers resources, and fewer or majority prospective consumers would come forth to afford it. Coal use & Clean Energy both would suffer economic stagnation and affect the whole economy.
Poverty is the name of negative resurce availability or affordability. Developing nations;-India included, can not afford to waste or ignore the coal resourece for mass consumption.
The demonstrators against coal consumption would continue their sustenance on coal. Scientific engagement of the community to bring cleaner energy as efficient and cost effective as coal would prompt these demonstrators to change to better alternatives. India has World’s highest techical manpower, & this can be revolutionised.
Goodluck!
November 26th, 2009 at 8:11 am
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November 27th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Guys,
i am of the view that if we conserve energy,by various means ie.Cool roofs,heat island mitigation,HVAC reduction, india seriously can survive on existing generation.
A high albedo roof coating and exterior coating combined with low transfer glass on the building sides added with natural lighting and LED’s can reduce the energy consumption of a building by close to 66% practically and 75% on paper.
Think about it.
Rgds
Rajpal u.Navalkar
CEO Thermoshield India
http://www.thermoshieldindia.com
don’t just go green!!THINK GREEN
December 18th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Newton stated his first law of motion backin 1687…”A body persists in a state of rest or of uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force.Don’t u think its applicable for our ‘respected political system and their rotten approaches which has been been immune to the ‘change with time’ attitude?’unless and until a strong and steady pressure is put on our ‘veterans in policy making’,no fruitful result can be obtained.We have to make them realize that their power or position is not going to shield them from the aftermath of wat has been done.Its high time v make them listen….
December 20th, 2009 at 7:02 am
hi
i myself want to establish personal solar panel for generating electricity,but the only hindrance is the very high cost.I hail from a middle class family and its impossible to invest large amount of money.Governmant should provide subsidies on these solar panels or parts related with the renewable energy sources.presently all the state governemts are levying vat or other taxes on spare parts related to the renewable energy generation equipments.It is rediculous.They should do something.Ilove mother nature and i want to contribute to save her and obviously us.but the only hindrance is economic aspects.large MNC’s should enter this field too.I plea to MR.Ratan Tata to do something.If he can manufacture worlds cheapest car(which obviously is going to ruin environment,if large chunk of population start buying it)then he could search the solution for cheap renewable wind,solar,tidal energy systems and he can also intoduce hydrogen fuel running cars in India.
FOR GOD SAKES
TO POLITICians:-for godsake pls do something.if you could not improve the poverty condition in india at least do something for mother nature because yours,yours children’s future are in your hand.
TO CORPORATE WORLD:-Indian corporates are shining in the world for there success in buisness,but now please realise that sustainable developemnt is the only key to future development.Whom you will sell your things if people are struggling from adverse environmental problems.