CWC
wants alternative to Kotmale
By Apsara Kapukotuwa
The Ceylon Workers Congress wants the complete stoppage of the Upper
Kotmale hydropower project (UKHP) and is championing an alternative
project proposed by the Electricity Board.
CWC
Vice-President R. Yogarajan told The Sunday Times, that the stoppage
of the UKHP was one of the key conditions for supporting the government.
Earlier this week, Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha
said the CWC had agreed to the UKHP but with a small reduction in
generation capacity. The compromise was that the Devon, Puna and
Ramboda waterfalls were not to be tapped but instead to concentrate
mainly on the Kotmale oya.
The
CWC objections to the proposed 150 MW power plant is due to the
environmental impact that may be caused, including loss of water
to neighbouring waterfalls.
“Representations
regarding this was put before the parliamentary sub-committee this
week. We would like to consider the "Yoxford option" which
proposes the establishment of a power plant away from Talawakelle
and would be between St. Clair's Falls and Devon Falls. The power
generation would be 75% of the original capacity proposed for the
UKHP but the cost would be 40 % less,” Mr. Yogarajan said.
Site
work on the UKHP has, however, already begun. Meanwhile, the Institution
of Engineers, Sri Lanka has once again appealed to the government
to expedite the UKHP.
In
a letter sent to the President and the Power and Energy Minister,
the IESL notes the acute financial burden carried by the Ceylon
Electricity Board, (in the region of Rs. 26 million) and urges the
government to proceed with both the Norochcholai and Upper Kotmale
projects.
“The
government must now make a firm decision to go ahead with the Norochcholai,
Upper Kotmale and Kerawalapitiya power plants in view of the high
cost incurred using alternative methods of power generation,”
President-elect of the IESL, R.C.L de Silva said. |