The Hindu Business Line : Don't throw forests to the wind

This is with reference to the interview with Mr Ramesh Kymal, MD, NEG Micon (India) and Chairman, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Assn, (Business Line, August 30), in which Mr Kymal says that India does not have a proper policy on renewable energy. He is right.

Extreme care is needed in the case of wind farms coming up in forest areas. This is because wind farm developers cannot always tell whether a forest area is degraded and may set up wind farms in good forested area as well.

Also, care should be taken not to destroy the degraded land because those forest lands can be regenerated with local support.

Wind power is no doubt a good alternative to the largely environment unfriendly alternatives such as the massive dam based hydel power or polluting coal-based power.

But, of late, promoters of wind power are stomping into the fragile Western Ghat forests.

Wind power companies would do well to spare a thought to some or all of the following considerations:

Make sure forest areas are not destroyed;

Ensure that massive roads are not built to the wind farms via forest areas;

Ensure that environment impact assessments (eia) are done honestly and openly;

Take the local communities into confidence and get their approval in an honest manner;

Consult environmental and conservation experts for critical reviews/corrections/suggestions, and so on.

Wind power has good potential as clean power. But if the sector has to win the confidence of the villagers and tribals, then wind power companies have to work with local communities and make sure they are on board.

This will bring in huge support for wind power from local people and, in turn, pressure the electricity boards to use more wind power and also to set up proper infrastructure to tap wind energy.

Ramachandran Balachandran

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