Environmentalists at the recently concluded 11th Conferenceof Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP CBD 11) in Hyderabadhave shown concern at the spurt in power projects that is being witnessed inthe eco-sensitive Konkan coast. The projects are threatening marine and coastalbiodiversity and need urgent intervention by the government.
The conference had amongst others avid Konkan watchersincluding Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Greenpeace India and others.Most of the participants in the conference opined that the government needs tointervene and ensure that development is rational.
Environmentalists pointed in particular to the threat tomarine biodiversity from proposed projects specifically in Ratnagiri, Raigadand Sindhudurg districts.
“In a small 150-km stretch covering Ratnagiri, Raigad andSindhudurg 15 gas-based, thermal and nuclear power plants generating 25gigawatts of power have been proposed. Of these, 11 are in Ratnagiri alone,”said Dr Deepak Apte, marine biologist and BNHS deputy director.
Experts explain that power plants lead to thermal stress andaffect many marine species destroying livelihood of traditional fishermen.“Power plants release water around seven degrees higher than the seatemperature. Over a long period of time, say 80 years, the massive volumereleased into sea could change the temperature,” Apte said.
Experts believe that this may result in emigration of marinespecies to areas which are not as hot. The current crop of fishes will bereplaced with those who would prefer such hot waters. The traditional fishermenwill end up netting fishes that he did not plan to catch rendering himeconomically poorer, experts said.
Marine species that do not have tolerance to large changesin temperatures will be affected. The problem with Maharashtra will be actuallythe number of plants that are bound to come in. “In Maharashtra it will be likeone power plant every 20 kilometres. The cumulative thermal stress will be veryhigh,” Apte said.
Environmentalists in the conference pointed out thatgovernment was considering only displacement due to power plants and healthhazards but not thermal pollution, which will be a major issue considering somany plants squeezing together.
