Full feedHuman windmill demands clean energy in India
Greenpeace in India has joined the community of Alibag, in Maharashtra, who are fighting four proposed thermal power plants in the area. Around 1200 villagers stood in the formation of a life sized windmill near Khidki village, Alibag, in what could well be the largest demonstration in support of renewable energy in India to date. Their demand was that the state government drop plans to build the 10,000 MW of coal fired thermal power plants in their region and explore renewable energy potential instead. The villagers stated their commitment to fight the acquisition of their fertile agricultural land for dirty coal power.
People from nine villages that will be affected by the project came to the demonstration - leaving their work during the busiest agriculture season just to be part of the movement. Students from five schools in the area also participated.
“We believe that the energy that is planned from these coal plants can come from clean alternatives like wind and solar energy, and by using energy more efficiently. We will not give up our land and our future to these mega power plants that will pollute our air, land, water, and ruin our children’s futures by adding to the problem of climate change,” said Dr Vishnu P. Mhatre of Naugaon Sangharsh Samiti -- one of the organisations fighting for clean energy in the region.
The community is opposing Thermal Power Plants to be set up over 8500 acres of fertile agricultural land. The companies involved are the Tata Power Company Limited (1200 MW), Maharashtra Energy Generation Limited, a Reliance subsidiary (4000 MW) at Shahpur, Taluka Alibag. The Patni group (500 MW) and Ispat (2000 MW) want to set up their plants in adjacent Medekhad Khadi. The villagers have been fighting attempts by the government and the companies to acquire their land for more than four years. “We don’t oppose energy being produced but we strongly demand that the Government of India change its energy pathway towards decentralized renewable energy which will be used locally for agro-based industries and domestic needs”, said Mr Satish Londhe, a resident of Alibag and state coordinator of the Shramik Mukti Dal.
This demonstration is a sign that there is significant opposition forming against coal in India which is only going to grow. This not a fight against growth or development, rather it is just the opposite. It is a fight for building the energy infrastructure of the future instead of relying on dinosaur technologies. India can get 35%(1) of its power from renewable energy by 2030. We have the ability and technical capacity; we only need the political will.”
Our office in India is demanding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, begin a clear shift towards a more sustainable energy pathway by ensuring that India put in place a National Renewable Energy Bill no later than 2010. This would mean that the draft bill needs to be public this year so it can be debated before placing it for parliamentary approval. It would also provide a framework for the Solar Mission and show that India is really serious about the mission. More than 50,000 Indians have already signed petitions demanding a response on this from Dr Manmohan Singh.
