By Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya
I thank Dr. Janaka Ratnasiri (The Island, 30th August) for his response to my recent article "Low Rainfall is not the Reason for Power Cuts (The Island 21st August)". In my article, I explained how CEB planned to supply electricity this year without a power cut, even if the rainfall is the lowest. I also explained what happened to each project in the CEB Plan.

It is a fact that Environmental Foundation Limited, an NGO specialising in blocking power plant projects (for whatever benefits to them) have been so far successful in the following.

(1) Blocking the new Upper Kotmale hydroelectric project since 1995, which would have provided 300 million units of electricity this year, even with the lowest rainfall. This power plant was to begin producing electricity from January this year. This is the cause for the 1 1/2 hours of the power cut you experience now.

(2) Blocking Norochcholai coal power project from 1999. This will cause an estimated power cut of 6 hours in the 2004/5/6 period.

(3) Spreading false information that the small power plant at Anuradhapura is only 1 kilometre away from the sacred area, and that it will damage the shrines. The power plant was being built actually 10 kilometres away. Subsequently, when the country was already into the 1 1/2 hour power cut in July, the President cancelled the power plant. This power plant could have reduced your power cuts by 1/2 an hour.

All the three power plants above had received full approval of the Central Environmental Authority after the due legal process. The designs and financing were ready for years.

The NGO false propaganda converts into a public protest, then Bishops and Buddhist monks join-in, then it becomes a political issue, politicians then order CEB to stop power plant projects. Dr. Ratnasiri says CEB should have objected when the President cancelled the Mawella Coal Power Project. Tell us Dr. Ratnasiri, just one instance during your time as a very senior state employee, you submitted a serious objection to an obviously wrong political decision by the Executive President of the country, affecting your area of specialisation.

I am sure Dr. Ratnasiri, over decades of his service as a State employee, would have been frustrated hundreds of times, unable to do what you think is correct in the national interest. CEB employees cannot be any different.

Dr. Ratnasiri finds fault with each and every power plant CEB planned. Tell us Dr. Ratnasiri, where in this world is that ideal power plant you dream of which has no people living on the site, no Bishop, Church or Bo-tree within 11 kilometres, no smoke, absolutely perfect geology, no waterfall disturbed, no noise, no aesthetic impacts.

The little electricity you and I now enjoy is produced through a lot of sacrifices Victoria (Teldeniya Town and Temple under water, Victoria falls no more), Laxapana (Maskeliya Town and Kovil under water). New Laxapana (Laxapana falls no more), Kotmale (Kotmale town under water, high pressure tunnel problems but rectified), Canyon (Geological problems and tunnel re-routed), Kelanitissa (noise and smoke), Sapugaskanda (noise and smoke, Kelaniya Temple close by is safe for last 17 years).

If you are unhappy about the above environmental impacts of existing power plants, immediately switch-off your lights, your computer, your fridge, your TV and do not use any water from the tap because it was pumped using electricity from polluting power plants.

As Dr. Ratnasiri points out, corruption and inability of CEB to collect the dues have been widely publicised, and I do not have to repeat them here. Even if CEB is 100% clean, collecting 100% of the dues, electricity will not drop from the air. CEB needs to build power plants to produce electricity.

Certainly CEB should be totally blamed for not proceeding with the projects required to avoid power cuts (as explained in their own plan), and for not suppressing objections by NGOs by whatever means available. Let us hope the present power cuts give CEB the strength to do so.

You will be told (again and again) that the drought is the reason for the power cuts. Believe CEB and the Government if you like.