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Dam and be damned?
Upper Kotmale hydropower project is torn between urgent power needs and environmental dangers, reports
Dilrukshi Handunnetti

While Cabinet approval is being awaited for the controversial 150 MW Upper Kotmale hydropower project to meet the country's urgent power needs, many questions have arisen over its viability and its environmental implications.

In the aftermath of prolonged power cuts that crippled industries and affected the public, Power and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya sought to implement the controversial project, shelved many years ago. Besides the environmental issues and the drying up of seven beautiful waterfalls, the question of resettling over 600 Tamil estate labour families who would be displaced saw a heated political battle ensuing with Minister of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure, Arumugam Thondaman.

The energy requirement
CEB engineers state that since the commencement of hydropower generation in the country in 1950 with the 25 MW Laxapana station, power generation grew rapidly, as did the demand. The present capacity is 1351 MW of which hydropower stations generate 1135 MW while diesel and gas turbines generate 216 MW.

To date, the bulk of power generation for the national grid (90%) comes from hydro power plants.

With the present growth rate being 10%, the country's estimated demand by 2002 was about 8,000 GWh of electrical energy per annum. This is expected to reach 21,000 GWh by 2010. With the monsoons being reduced and drought conditions prevailing since 1992, it has been urged that alternative energy resources be pursued. "We recommended switching to coal power in by 2010, but this might not be a reality at this rate," said a senior retired CEB engineer associated with the original feasibilities of the Upper Kotmale project.

With consumers fearing more power cuts, the government appears to be determined to push the project which will have an installed capacity of 150 MW and is capable of providing 550GWh of energy annually.

Minister Thondaman now says the issue has been amicably settled with Minister Jayasuriya pledging to 'suitably settle' those who would be displaced and pay adequate compensation.

He added that his intention was to ensure that these people were not rendered homeless and penniless as their livelihood would also be under threat with some tea estates being directly affected.

At present, the project stands suspended, torn between the twin concerns of a need for urgent power generation and an equally significant need to protect the environment.

Kotmale is an area of forest - covered mountains and acres of lush green paddy and tea plantations. An area renowned for its history and scenic beauty. It was here that a fleeing Prince Dutugemunu sought refuge, and also where the Sacred Tooth Relic was hidden during invasions. Thirty years ago, Kotmale was chosen as the location of the country's largest irrigation cum hydropower scheme, the Accelerated Mahaweli Scheme.

CEB engineers believe that despite the drawbacks, the project still remains the most viable, to develop the country's power generation capacity. They claim that the geographical, topographical and hydrological conditions in Kotmale are best suited for hydropower development with the basin having an annual average rainfall of 2330 mm.

The project will drain water from six areas in Upper Kotmale including the water from the river flowing down Ramboda to the Kotmale reservoir. The CEB intends to construct a tunnel which will supply water to this 150MW hydropower station to generate 530 GWh.

A senior CEB official said that it included a run of the river type-regulating pond and a 12.8 km- tunnel supplemented by four brook intakes, diversion tunnels and an underground powerhouse. The total cost of the project is an estimated US $260 million.

Environmentalists meanwhile query as to why the preliminary investigations and the final geological surveys have not been completed yet. They argue that the risks and disadvantages of the proposed project have been overlooked to meet the power requirements.

The original feasibility studies on hydropower generation here were conducted in 1985 along with the technical and economical feasibility of the project proponent. In 1993, the engineering studies were completed.

Upper Kotmale became controversial largely due to the adverse impact on the beautiful waterfalls by the suggested waterway system. The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) rejected the original proposal in 1993 owing to 'irrevocable and irretrievable impact to the environment' and called for alternatives.

One main reason cited was the failure to encompass the losses that may be incurred if the project is proceeded with. The Samanalawewa project, it was pointed out which was considered 'economical', later became a drain with the rising cost of blanketing.

Hemantha Withanage of the Environmental Foundation Ltd says the project could result in quick siltation of the Kotmale reservoir. When the water of the Mahaweli tributary flowing through Ramboda is stopped, the rocks in the surrounding areas would dry up and the heat radiated would eventually lead to the cracking of the banks, causing earthslips in the rainy season, he explained. Vegetable and tea cultivation would be affected along with the displacement of people.

The Environmental Foundation Ltd. Dumbara Surakinno and other environmental groups have called for the halting of the project.

The key issue is the drastic effect on seven waterfalls - St. Clair (85 m) Devon (84m), Ramboda (30m), Puna (101m), Pundalu (40m) also known as Dunsinane, St. Andrews (50m) and Hollywood (25m).

If the project goes ahead, these waterfalls will cease to be visible. According to Tourist Board sources, an estimated 100,000 local and foreign tourists visit the famous St. Clair and Devon falls annually.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) claims that the waterfalls will be visible only every two hours for a few minutes, a scheme that would cost the CEB Rs. 100 million per annum. Besides the massive cost factor, experts say that an effort to ensure visibility at regular intervals could diminish the flow regime and effectiveness, especially during low flow regimes.

CEB engineers admit that although the spray zone of waterfalls will affect the microclimate, it will not be a major concern. Environmentalists disagree and claim that orchids, ferns, fishes, mosses and amphibians would be seriously affected as they are part of an integrated micro- ecological system.

The project area includes highly developed tea areas producing some of the finest tea in the country.

The CEA, when calling for alternative proposals years ago urged long term assessments and recognised good watershed management as a prerequisite for the project to be a success. It was further suggested that alternative energy resources be introduced in place of hydropower, in a backdrop of global climatic changes owing to long spells of droughts and reduced rainfall.

With controversy raging, experts have reminded the CEB of a much earlier joint proposal by the UNDP and the Irrigation Department which planned the Upper Kotmale project in five stages.

Each project was to be independent, with the power stations being finally connected to the Sri Lankan Electrically Integrated System of Hydro Power Stations.

Dr. N.T.S. Wijesekera and Dr. Malik Ranasinghe submitted technical papers containing in-depth assessments to the 1999 volume of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka Report, recommending not proceeding with the CEB proposal.

Besides the UNDP proposal, a combination of alternatives, ending dependence on hydropower was also recommended.

"Development at the cost of destruction is not acceptable," said EFL's Hemantha Withanage. The country requires investments and for that, infrastructure such as power is a basic requirement. But projects of this nature would leave a trail of destruction and lead to adverse climatic conditions, the impact of which would be felt only in the future, when irrevocable damage has been caused," he warned.

While none would contest the need for urgent power generation for a developing nation, the other side of the coin is at what cost the country seeks to generate power. The government it seems must perform a precarious balancing act without compromising either interest.

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