Land for agriculture or power and energy
While the President who is also the Minister for Environment offers state land and uncultivated land for agriculture to grow food crops both for local consumption and export to overcome the precarious economic crisis the country is facing, the Minister for Power and Energy gets Cabinet approval to launch massive solar projects, both on land as well as floating solar panels in hydropower reservoirs, lakes, wewas etc., forgetting the fact that ours is a small island with limited land space of 65,610 Km2.
It is said that a one megawatt (Mw) solar plant requires four to five acres of land and to install major solar parks would mean the valuable land available for agriculture would be lost, apart from cutting down trees (deforestation) and a large extent of vegetation. It is also said that no plant life is possible under these panels, hence, as scientists say, the process of photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide to oxygen will not take place. This goes for floating solar panels as well, where the aquatic life would be affected. Oxygen is essential for all living beings for their existence.
The other serious factor which should receive attention, is that with the covering of water in reservoirs, lakes etc., vaporisation will not take place, thereby reducing rainfall and affecting climatic conditions. Do not forget with the installation of these solar panels both on land and reservoirs, lakes etc., the scenic beauty which the country boasts of and that attracts tourists will be lost. Tourism, one of the main sources of foreign exchange earnings will be affected.
This does not mean that Sri Lanka should stop its solar programme but encourage having solar panels in all domestic, office, commercial and industrial buildings. Floating solar panels in lagoons and the coastal belt around the island avoiding beaches popular with tourists.
The project to connect the Indian energy grid with Sri Lanka should be considered a blessing to meet the shortfall which will certainly stop utilisation of land and save our reservoirs and lakes keeping the scenic beauty of the country intact. Some may say that Sri Lanka will lose its sovereignty as power and energy are essential for the development of a country and could interfere with the administration. But in this case, it should be taken as a gesture to help and protect our country from other foreign powers gaining control, especially China which gained a foothold during the rule of Rajapaksas; for reasons better left unsaid. In doing so, India not only protects and safeguard Sri Lanka but itself and the South Asian region which is its right.
G.A.D.Sirimal
Boralesgamuwa