Saving power
Whenever the
prices of petroleum products are revised, we tend to think of
only one thing: motoring. Motorists worry about their fuel bills
and bus commuters lament over higher fares. But there is a far
bigger picture, which is usually not considered.
In reality, most of our fuel imports go towards power
generation. Around 60 per cent of the power from the national
grid is generated by thermal power plants which use diesel. With
crude oil reaching US$ 100 a barrel, any country that imports
its total requirement of oil faces a major predicament. Sri
Lanka is no exception.
Having no oil resources of our own yet (exploration is due to
begin this year), Sri Lanka has to spend Rs.100 billion a year
to import fuel for power generation. Also consider the fact that
refined oil is much more expensive than crude oil - Sri Lanka’s
refineries do not have the capacity to fulfil the entire local
requirements, so imports are essential.
With dry weather set to prevail over the coming months, the
picture looks bleak indeed as the Ceylon Electricity Board will
not be able to fall back on hydropower.
It is in this context that the authorities are appealing to
the public to save power, at least in the peak time band from 6
p.m to 9 p.m. Not only households, but also local bodies and
Government institutions should follow this advice as we see
street lights burning even in broad daylight.
Saving power is not a difficult task at all. Turning off even
a single light bulb can make a difference. The same goes for
fans, airconditioners and other appliances left on in empty
rooms.
Do not leave your TV and video recorder on standby - turn
them off completely. Even such a minor gesture can make a
substantial difference to your electivity bill and the country’s
foreign exchange reserves.
There should also be a countrywide move to CFL bulbs, which
consume much less power, provide more light and last longer.
Even developed countries such as the UK are taking steps to ban
incandescent bulbs from 2010 and completely switch over to CFLs.
Such a move should be considered here as well. Renewable
sources of power such solar power should be popularised
especially in areas where the national grid cannot reach.
Renewable energy is the future and we have to take steps in that
direction now.
Ram Sethu
Ram Sethu is in
the news again. The Indian Government, which earlier got into
hot water over claims that Lord Ram does not exist, has again
received a breather to prove its case over the multi-billion
dollar project.
The plan to dredge a shipping channel between Sri Lanka and
India, named Sethusamudram, has coveted controversy from the
beginning. The project aims at providing a continuous navigation
channel between the East and West coast of India, without
circumnavigating Sri Lanka.
Hindu devotees have described Sethusamudram as a sacrilegious
measure, as it would destroy Ram Sethu, the sand formation
between Sri Lanka and India which Hindus believe has been built
by Lord Ram’s army of monkeys.
On the other hand, environmentalists deride the project for
the adverse environmental impact it would have on marine life
and coastal resources. Coastal residents, mostly fishermen in
India are worried that it will affect their livelihood.
Despite claims that the canal will vastly reduce distance and
journey times for ships, many shipping operators are wary of
these claims and some say that the savings in distance, time,
fuel and other costs will not be substantial. Even a State-owned
shipping line in India has taken a dim view of the project.
One also has to consider the security implications. Many in
India believe that the project will be advantageous to the LTTE
and other terror groups for gun-running activities. Sri Lankan
authorities have expressed reservations on Sethusamudram on
several occasions.
Activists are now demanding a White Paper on this aspect from
the Central Government. But for the decision makers in India,
the delay is extremely frustrating: It could cost the project 40
per cent more, touching a whopping four thousand crore rupees,
and the channel could become all the more expensive to use.
There is no sign of the debate over Sethusamudram coming to
an end in the near future. Indian authorities should not rush
into the project without considering all the pros and cons and
without evaluating all the claims made by various parties on its
viability.
The possibility that it would become a white elephant is
quite high, given the lukewarm response of the shipping
community. The Indian Government’s shipping experts should use
the ‘breather’ they have received to analyse all aspects of the
project to come to a definite conclusion on the viability of
Sethusamudram. |