Saturday, May 19, 2007

Kerala government clears Pathrakadavu Hydroelectric Project (PHEP)

The Kerala government has given clearance to the Pathrakadavu Hydroelectric Project (PHEP) on 18 April 2007.

Here's what environmentalists must get worried about :
The dam will be only 500 metres from the National Park boundary

The biodiversity of the Pathrakadavu region includes:


  • 381 species of flowering plants of which 55 are endemic to the Western Ghats and 7 are classified as 'rare' by the World Conservation Union.

  • 23 species of mammals

  • 79 species of birds

  • 22 species of reptiles

  • 43 species of butterflies

  • 14 species of amphibians

  • 18 species of fishes of which 10 are not found even in Silent Valley.

The Kerala State Planning Board published a report last year that states Kerala's untapped energy resources include a production capacity of 4200 MW from wind, solar, biomass and small hydro power.

Another point of great concern is that transmission and distribution losses add upto 25 per cent.

You can read an interesting article on this issue here at :
http://www.indiatogether.org/2007/may/env-silentdam.htm


image source: IMSI Clip Art

No comments: