Wind turbines destroy birds; Bioscope and other scopes

Cassandra quoted Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda and his indictment of Indian businessman Adani’s project of wind power generation in Mannar in her last Sunday’s Cry. She subsequently listened several times to a video of him speaking in English on the project – naming it “yet another scam project.” He scientifically and statistically validates his criticism. Cass’s old blood boiled as she heard him say that Adani and his group will reap billions paid in dollars by Sri Lanka for the next 25 years which our children and their children will have to pay – totally detrimental and unnecessary due to signing a project that is suspect.

Demerits of the Mannar wind power project

What he explained was that according to the project Sri Lanka was to pay Rs 60 per unit but Minister of Energy got it reduced to 30. The world price, constantly decreasing, is much less now: less than US 2 cents. Dr Pethiyagoda was contemptuous of the Central Environmental Authority for giving this project the ‘go ahead’ when it was so injurious to the environment in Mannar which is particularly sensitive. The Mannar island is now protected by maintained natural sanctuaries in and around it.

What he said was that with the installation of 52 wind turbines which will be the third tallest constructions in Sri Lanka, the harm done economically, socially and environmentally far outweighs the benefit of generation of wind power energy in that area. He points out that these turbines can be set up in other coastal areas with much less environmental damage. Also, wind power is an easily available, free resource to Sri Lanka and the country has plenty big businesses which could harness it, spending SL rupees. Companies were named. Thus, a feasible in-house manageable project need not be handed over to a foreign business and businessman.

Death of bird species

Mannar is the temporary home of thousands of birds which migrate to it from as far away as the Arctic Circle; 120 species from there alone. Dr Pethiyagoda cautioned that thousands of endemic and migratory birds will be slaughtered by the wind turbines. He mentioned the immense research carried out by Professor Sampath Seneviratne of the University of Colombo whose team tracks these migratory birds by even strapping electronic devices on them. Prof Weerakoon too, of the same university, has done immense work on protecting the environment of these areas of our island.

What Cass muttered angrily to herself was that the untiring efforts of these scientists and others who warn the government about scam projects will all be pushed aside and the country damned for decades by allowing injurious to the country projects in the name of foreign investment. The investors will rake in immense profit later while SL sinks lower in poverty.

Remembered are trips to Hambantota during the season when the long pink legged flamingos visited us. This was before the harbour and airport were built to get a certain name on them – vanity projects indebting Sri Lanka to China till kingdom come. Local Ozymandias with his building projects chased the flamingos away, along with killing millions of peacocks and blocking age old elephant corridors with disastrous results.

The flamingoes mercifully did not desert our island; they altered their migratory route and made Mannar their destination. And then our trips north west to see the thousands of graceful birds a-strutting and a-pecking. If Adani is given his way for a pocketed private pittance, this country will see no more beautiful migratory birds.

Previous unheeded advice

Dr Rohan Pethiyagoda in the video mentioned how he and other scientists warned Prez Gotabaya R not to implement the ban on chemical agricultural products advised by persons like then GMOA President, Dr Padeniya. No. Prez GR went ahead and gave the final push to Sri Lanka to crash to bankruptcy. He also mentioned how the government was advised to convey electricity by burying the cables. No, high tension wires were strung overhead with disastrous results.

Dr Pethiyagoda did not say it but Cass asks with all her heart and the fervour of her love for her country – paradise Lanka – why advice from experts is not hearkened unto. Why don’t our leaders learn from mistakes; admit they were wrong in decisions taken and make changes putting country and the good of its people first. A word and phrase steal to mind; black, stinking and rampantly prevalent in this country: corruption and personal monetary benefit.

COPE

Governments of SL and Heads thereof are in the habit of giving the people thundering slaps in its collective face. Remember how Prez Mahinda R appointed his very close henchman Mervyn Silva as Minister of Media after the latter was bathed in red paint when he went abusively to Rupavahini to cuff a director for not including his speech when some bridge or highway strip in Kelaniya was declared open. Loyal TV employees prevented the then MP from reaching his target of ire. Instead they poured red paint on him.

A similar slap on the country’s face has been executed by the present SLPP government electing MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena as the new Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises – COPE. Many are the press and social media comments on this. Did Prez Ranil W R approve this appointment?

A message made its rounds that COPE is now BIOSCOPE! Give it to our Sinhala speakers to come up with clever comments. Rohitha A is lumbering in to a seat that had some illustrious, educated, investigative, fair minded Chairpersons. Cass, for one, prays parliamentary elections will be held soon.

THE Brother who is the only one who mentions that ugly black Kaputa is back with probably new political tricks up his sleeve. Another of the Brethren has published (sure ghost scribed) his side of his being ousted from the presidency. He adduces it to a conspiracy – geopolitical and local combined. His book may erase the slight admiration and pity we have for him.