Coal news and updates

Tamil Nadu Accepts Report, Nixes Coal-bed Methane Project

In a significant development that would bring cheer to farmers in the delta region, the State government has decided to accept the report of the technical experts’ committee constituted to study the impact of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) extraction project on environment, sea water intrusion, food security and livelihood of farmers in Cauvery delta region. It has decided not to give permission to the Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited (GEECL) to proceed with the project.

A GO in this regard was issued by C V Sankar, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries department, Government of Tamil Nadu, on October 8, 2015. The order states that the expert committee was constituted based on a GO dated June 30, 2014, under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

The committee submitted its report on July 28, 2015. The committee pointed out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by GEECL lacked data on the ground water flow pattern in the project area, data on micro elements and the possibility of methane leaking through the aquifers.

Further, the report stated that GEECL did not submit letters of consent from the authorities concerned, the Central Ground Water Board and Public Works Department (PWD), for huge withdrawal of ground water for the project. The report also cited the study undertaken by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which pointed out possible hydro-geological disturbances in the area due to the extraction of ground water.

The report also pointed out that the farmers in the delta region depend on ground water for agriculture and for other domestic purposes. And the massive extraction of ground water would drastically lower the ground water level, the report said.

The project would also spoil irrevocably the scenic beauty of the verdant agricultural fields of the area by the criss-crossing pipes and the visits of migratory birds at Vaduvoor sanctuary would be adversely affected by the CBM operations.

There is also the danger of explosions due to the leakage of CBM which would cause loss to the lives, properties and the environment, the report added. If the negative effects of the project is taken into consideration the production of 450 mw for 25 years from this project is very insignificant, the report added.

Based on these recommendation, the State government has decided not to give permission for the Coal Bed Methane (CBM) extraction project and corresponding orders have been issued. Further, the GO has recommended to the Union Government to drop the proposals to extract CBM in the Cauvery delta districts and also urged it to consult the State government before launching any initiatives about this project.

Farmers thank Jayalalithaa

Thanjavur: Welcoming the GO issued by the State Government to scrap the Coal Bed Methane (CBM) project, Mannargudi S Renganthan, the General Secretary of Cauvery delta farmers welfare association has conveyed his thanks to the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. “This is the right step and also the first step to save the Cauvery delta from unwanted operations,” Renganathan added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com