Raising the heights of tension

Increasingly, the war between energy and environment is getting acute. This is especially so in the hydro sector as also in the thermal sector. Coal beds in India, and those situated in forests, are finding opposition from the environment ministry. Hydel projects are being seen as an opportunity unexploited by governments but largely opposed by environmentalists. When celebrities join the bandwagon, it spells trouble!

Recently, it has been James Cameron of Avataar fame who has joined the fray in Brazil’s war against the 11,000 MW producing Belo Monte dam. Brazil has a fragile energy grid that was hit last year by a blackout that darkened much of the nation. Belo Monte would supply six per cent of the country's electricity needs by 2014. A court ruling has stayed the construction pf the dam for now.

The director of "Avatar" and "Titanic" spent two days this week visiting Indian villages near the proposed dam site on the Xingu River, which feeds the Amazon, and talking with about 50 leaders of various groups.

Environmentalists and indigenous groups say Belo Monte would devastate wildlife and the livelihoods of 40,000 people who live in the area to be flooded. They also argue that the energy generated by the dam will largely go to big mining operations, instead of benefiting most Brazilians.

Avatar depicts the Na'vi race fighting to protect its homeland from big corporate plans to extract its resources. The movie has struck a chord with environmentalists the worldover and more so in places where millions have been displaced by major infrastructure projects.

It all comes back to the same impasse: without energy, how do we bring development? All talk about renewable energy is fine for the long run but for immediate needs, we can only rely on tried and tested technology.

Even India’s Narmada dam tussle shows no sign of being resolved. With accusations of money being eaten and compensation hardly compensating, the struggle is on in Madhya Pradesh where attempts are on to raise dam height.

Well, to win some you need to lose some. But who decides what we choose to win and loose? Who really benefit – the locals or some moneyed people far away?

Are small dams the solution? What is generally called as run of the river projects that do not dam or divert the natural flow of the water, but merely siphon a part which is sent back to the source?