Conserving energy

The Ceylon Electricity Board has sounded alarm bells of a looming power crisis in the coming days if the present drought continues. Already water levels of the main reservoirs have dropped by 25 percent heaping massive strain on the hydropower generation at the same time making the CEB depend more and more on costly thermal power which in return is bound to trigger off a rise in electricity bills.

This is bound to have a knock down effect on prices of goods exacerbating an already high cost of living.

According to CEB Chairman E.A.S.K.Edirisinghe who was quoted in a front page story of an English Language Weekly, half hour power cuts will be imposed from the end of this month.

This will be done on an area by area basis or ‘rolling’ power cuts with the Western Province possibly being spared due to its importance to the national economy. The public have also been warned of intermittent water cuts due to fast dwindling water levels.

It is time therefore that the authorities make the public at large realize the gravity of the problem and urge for economical use of electricity and water. We say this because there is today a rampant waste of these two commodities by the public.

But judging by past experience any attempt to educate the public is bound to fail. The lack of a sense of civic consciousness is amply evident around us. This is particularly borne out in Government Departments where negligence and a laid back attitude to waste of electricity is rather the norm.

One has only to step into one of these establishments to see familiar scenario of Air conditioners, fans operating at full throttle in largely untenanted offices. Power is also guzzled unconscionable by a hugely gadget oriented society who cannot be weaned away from their indulgences at massive cost to the country.

In this context one could question the decision to leave the Western Province untouched from any power blackouts given the high concentration of power guzzling gadgets and appliances in the WP.

It would certainly be unfair on the rest of public living outside the Western Province and would be tantamount to discrimination what ever the economic implications attributed.

For the cities do not deserve to be given this preferential treatment. In this regard the Colombo Municipal Council stands out as the epitome of negligence and lethargy. One has only to take casual stroll around the city to witness the number of street lights left burning even late into the day. In this regard one recalls a caption that was carried in a newspaper recently where a street bulb was blazing at high noon right opposite, of all places, the CEB.

One cannot but feel that all this sends the wrong message to the public vis a vis conservation. The powers that be should instill discipline and responsibility at the core, if the public are to follow suit. The rapid increase in the population,the explosion in commerce, trade and business has redoubled the demand for electricity as never before.

The dilly dallying with power projects by past Governments under pressure from environment and lobby groups have taken the country to this sorry pass where demand has surged much beyond the capacity to produce.

In this respect President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be commended for taking the bold decision to proceed with the Norachcholai thermal power project which would add 300 mega watts to the national grid. Other power projects too are in the pipeline.

But until such time these power schemes are ready the public should be prevailed upon to curb their power guzzling indulgences.

Government establishments and State institutions should give the lead in this regard.

Tribute to a hero

The Daily News and our Weekend paper the Sunday Observer have jointly extended an invitation to Meher Mohammad Khalil the driver of the coach in which the Lankan cricketers travelled on that fateful day in Lahore for a week’s stay in the country with his family.

This is in appreciation of his courageous action of speeding through while the coach was under terrorist gunfire which saved the lives of our precious cricketers. No doubt there would be other gestures of appreciation by a grateful Lankan public who will be eager to give him a fitting welcome. Mahela and boys have already paid their personal tribute to this humble individual and would be eagerly awaiting his arrival in the country. The Pakistan Government had already offered him gift of Rs. 500,000 for his brave act.

Khalil undoubtedly was the ‘Man of the Match’ on that day not just for rescuing a group of cricketers from a neighbouring country but also for preventing what certainly would have been catastrophe of gigantic proportion that would have shaken the South Asian region even precipitating a blood bath. His deed therefore should be seen in the context of the political undercurrent of the region as much as a unique act of bravery.

He will certainly remain a hero to all Sri Lankans and the toast of the Lankan cricketers. As a fitting tribute we suggest that a statue of his be erected at the Head quarters of the Cricket Board as a lasting monument to his gallantry and for keeping the Lankan cricketing edifice intact.