Power generation must be eco-friendly
MAY 25 2018The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Parliamentarian Bimal Rathnayake on 23 May alleged that the Government was planning on destroying hundreds of acres of forest reserves in order to set up solar power plants.
He even cited a part of a petition he had received from a group of environmentalists which claimed that the Government had permitted four companies including Iris Eco Power Lanka (Private) Limited and Anorchi Lanka Limited to clear forest land Buruthankanda, Tissapura to build solar power plants.
Other areas where forest covers are to be cleared include Divulpelassa, Walsapugala as well.
However, this allegation was denied by State Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith P. Perera who claimed that the four companies mentioned were not given licences to operate in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is currently going through a phase of power struggle of different forms. There is the political version, and then there is electricity.
Keeping politics aside, Sri Lanka’s energy consumption has been on the rise especially over the past few years.
On one hand, Sri Lanka expanded its network to rural areas, especially the war affected areas in the North, resulting in a considerable increase in power consumption.
On the other hand, the rapid construction of commercial hubs in the city has also resulted in an increase in electricity demand.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has its own problems that need to be addressed by the authorities concerned.
The CEB and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) are at loggerheads over the long-term power generation plan.
The tiff has resulted in the CEB continuing to engage in a work-to-rule campaign until the matter is resolved.
In the middle of all these issues, Sri Lanka has been compelled to come up with a durable plan for a long-term power supply.
Solar power is a practical solution as almost all parts of Sri Lanka receive sunlight throughout the year.
But, if Rathnayake’s allegations are true,then the Government will have to rethink its strategies pertaining to power generation.
Having solar power generation farms is not the issue here. We cannot afford to cut down forest lands for obvious reasons.
Sri Lanka is already facing the wrath of nature and changes in climate, and cutting down more trees would only harm the environment.
Trees help to keep the earth cool and also to retain ground water.
Colombo has become a concrete jungle and is unlivable without air conditioners. People yearn to find a tree when the sun is scorching upon us.
The same fate should not befall other parts of the country.
The Government needs to look at implementing such moves without harming the environment. Sri Lanka has enough and more lands that could be utilized for such a project. All we need is sunlight, and Sri Lanka has that in abundance.
Sri Lanka needs a sustainable power generation plan if it was to cope with the increasing demand.
But, these plans should not be implemented at the risk of our environment being destroyed.
Waste disposal and waste management is another problem that Sri Lanka is constantly faced with. The issue might seem to be under control at the moment. But it is only a matter of time when authorities struggle to find a suitable dumping site.
Some countries have started waste-to-energy projects where they use garbage to generate power. Even Sri Lanka was seriously looking at it as an option as both, garbage and electricity generation, are major problems in the country.
It is time that Sri Lanka revisited some of these options in order to implement a long-term, durable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly power generation system.
