Environment:Sense and nonsense

While environmentalists are up in arms against the government for by-passing the Central Environmental Authority and ignoring Environmental Impact Assessments, we see the spectacle of the proposed Norochchalai Coal Power Plant which is expected to generate 25 percent of the power required by the year 2005 being stalled by public protests. Yesterday, we had the Senior Environmental Scientist of the Environmental Foundation writing on this page protesting against the decision by the Secretary to the Ministry of Forest and Environment to approve the Kotmale Hydro Power Project which had been earlier twice rejected by the Central Environmental Authority by the then Secretary to the Ministry of Transport. Environment and Women’s Affairs.

The confusion that prevails about environment management is revealed from the fact that in one instance the person holding the post of Secretary to the Ministry of Environment rejects the project while the present holder of the same office approves it.

Environmental management is an extremely controversial field in most countries. We have environmentalists and governments in power locking horns on many development projects in Sri Lanka. But now it appears to be reaching absurd levels. The disapproval and approval of the Kotmale Power project of the Ceylon Electricity Board by holders of the same office is one instance. There was another instance of President Kumaratunga suspending all environmental statutes under the emergency law relating to the energy sector and later withdrawing it.

Environmentalists, governments and other institutions concerned with the environment, the world over, at the Rio De Janeiro Conference on the environment settled on the definition of ‘ Sustainable development’ as compromise between the development and saving the environment. But this has not settled the problem because what constitutes ‘ sustainable development’ is subjective. Compromises have to be reached particularly on vital development projects because the consequences could lead not only to environmental disasters but economic disasters and national disasters as well.

Sri Lanka is facing an energy crisis and needs to install power generating plants fast to avoid power cuts in the very near future. The Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board Mr. Arjun Deraniyagala on Monday at a press conference warned that unless the Norochcholai coal fired power plant is approved soon, three hour daily power cuts would begin by the year 2004. There has been a long debate over the location of this coal fired power plant and following public agitation the sites have shifted from Trincomale to the South and now at Norochcholai in the North Western Coast. Quite often what happens in environmental issues is that they get mixed up with politics and then much heat and sound is generated. We have witnessed the long campaign against the construction of the Kandalama Hotel. The protesters were indeed justified because it was built on a strict natural reserve. But we do not hear of any reports of ecological destruction so far. It is also ironic that some of those who led demonstrations are wining and dining at this hotel.

There are projects that cannot be avoided even though it may have adverse effects on the environment. The Colombo- Katunayake Highway, Matara - Colombo Highway and the Coal Power plant are some such projects. Perhaps Environmental Impact Assessment standards have to be lowered while all possible precautions be taken.

But the government is also committed by law to obtain these assessments as well as follow the advice of the Central Environment Authority. The article of Mr. Withanage referred to earlier points out millions of dollars ( 25 million alone from US AID) have been ploughed into developing the process of environmental assessment. Much hard work has gone on since 1988 it has been pointed out and 500 persons trained in environmental assessment. According to Mr. Withanage the Central Environmental Authority is not functioning as expected and the weak implementation of the Environmental Assessment Process during the last 5 years is the main reason for the lack of credibility of these assessments.

With an expanding population and a population density that ranks among the highest in the world more problems as well as the existing problems assuming greater proportions are inevitable. Colombo and its suburbs reveal to a certain extent the degradation of the environment. There is black smog in the air, rising mountains of garbage, slums and street families, filling up of natural watersheds and the decimation of coconut plantations and paddy fields in the suburbs. It is apparent that a much more effective management in this field is called for. The subject of the environment impinges on many ministries. It deals with Wild Life, Forestry, human habitations, transport, town planning and many more. Perhaps, President Kumaratunga should consider taking the subject of environment under the Presidential Secretariat.