Friends, this is the methane gas issue that actor Vijay is talking in Kaththi movie. I am sharing whatever I know. Coal-bed Methane (CBM) exploration and production project waiting to swallow Cauvery delta districts.It has been found that the delta districts of Tamil Nadu and Pondichery, starting from Bagoor (coastal area of Pondichery),Neyveli, Sirimushnam, Jayamkondan through southern part of Mannarkudi, has rich sources of lignite and methane. The assessed figure of lignite is as follows: Areas around Bagoor – 766 million tons; Areas around Neyveli, Jayamkondan and Veeranam – 6835 million tons; Mannarkudi – 19,788 million tons. Methane gas in this area is evaluated to be 98000 crorecubic feet. License had been first provided to extract Methane gas. Indian Government’s Plan: The details on the license provided in order to fulfill the growing demand of fuel, to extract methane, to Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited (GEECL) on 29th July, 2010 is as follows. Landscape to extract Methane gas:Thiruvidaimaruthur, Kumbakonam, Orathanadu, Papanasam taluk of Thanjavur district and Kudavasal, Valangaiman, Needamangalam, Mannarkudi taluk of Thiruvarur district. Total landscape: 691 sq. kilometers. Out of this, 24 sq. kilometers are allotted to extract lignite and the rest 667 sq. kilometers (1,66,210 acres) is for methane extraction. Action plan of GEECL The company has told that they received the permit from Union ministry for environment and forests and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and prior permission from Tamil Nadu government to execute the CBM project. The company had announced that it would start the latent well drilling activities before the end of 2012. Preliminary work on12 latent wells at Thanjavur and 38 latent wells at Thiruvarur are scheduled to begin soon. Details of latent wells to be set on 50 areas: Kumbakonamtaluk: Kothangudi, Perappatti, Vanduvanjeri, Thirucherai, Thukkacheri, Aamangudi, Vittalur, Kumaramangalam, Nachiarkovil. Thiruvidaimaruthurtaluk: Manjamalli, Narasingampettai. Orathanadutaluk: Kulamangalam. Kudavasaltaluk: Siththadi, Kudavasal, Melaipalayam, Maluvacheri, Ogai, Keezhapalayur, Kamukakkudi, Paththur, Koradacheri, Aarpaar, Manjakudi, Vadaver, Sellur. Valangaimantaluk: Saranaththam, Manikkamangalam, Kottaiyur, Anumanthapuram, Keelavadamal, RasenthiraNallur, Naarthangudi, KoyilVenni, Aathanur, Kandiyur. Needamangalamtaluk: Poovanur, Keezhavanthacheri (Thandilam), Arichapuram, Anumanthapuram, Annavasal, Kaalacheri. Mannarkuditaluk: Karnavoor, Vadapaathi, Cherankulam, Mannakudi, Aravathur, Savalakkaran, Moovarkottai, Paruthikkottai, Kalanjimedu. Green-field project : A false promise Methane will increase the temperature of the environment. The company propagates that burning Methane will improve the environmental conditions and Methane is a non-pollutant fuel. Therefore it falsely1 advertises that coal-bed methane extraction is a green-house plan. Steps to extract Methane Coal-bed Methane gas is not found accumulated densely in a particular place. It’s present between the pores or cracks or on the surface of lignite rocks. At Mannarkudi region, underground coal seams are found from 500 ft. to 1650 ft.beneath the ground water. The pressure from ground water does not allow the sparsely spread Methane from the coal-beds to escape. To extract the gas, a steel-encased hole is drilled into the underground coal seams and dewatered through pumping, which reduces pressure and releases trapped gases up to the well head. By such methods, ground level water around Cauvery delta would go below 500 ft and underground water sources around the Mannarkudi area would also go dry. Above all salt water from the Bay of Bengal will enter the Cauvery Delta. The transformation of the Cauvery Delta in to a salt mine will be the impending disaster. In addition to that, salt water from the Bay of Bengal could enter the Cauvery delta, whichcauses disaster making it a salt-rich environment. There are also chances for Earthquake and sink holes. Adverse impact of the project Ground water being pumped out through bore wells would be contaminated in many ways2. It may contain salt more than 5 times as of sea water. It also contains dissolvable salts like chloride, sodium, sulfate, bicarbonate, fluoride, iron, barium, magnesium, ammonia, arsenic, and various other water soluble particles and radioactive waste materials. Suppose if a well is being drilled for every 80 acre of land, then 2000 wells would be drilled. About 20000 gallon (75000 litres) of water will be taken out from each of the wells every day.The plan to pass such contaminated ground water through the network of river canals which double as irrigation and water drains, is very dangerous. Implementing such a destructive plan is a stupidity that will be disastrous for Tamil Nadu. Also the gas extraction in the river bed causes a vacuum which pulls down the soil and the entire river bed goes down. Plan to loot minerals demoting Cauvery delta a desert The company would identify area to drill wells, would need pipes to connect wells, build roads and compressor stations, need vacuum devices and bore well machines. It would need space to store all the required materials to implement the CBM project, which will make the mineral rich Cauvery delta a trash filled dry area. On the one hand, the destruction of ground water and on the other hand, the impact of salt rich waste water pollution will turn Cauvery delta into a desert. (Earthquakes, land retreat and other natural disasters have happened in the areas where Methane is taken, in the United States of America). Agriculture and the society dependent on agriculture will be ruined if this project is implemented. They are planning to extract coal from underground using this chance to their best. Disaster is not only for Mannarkudi, but also for entire Tamil Nadu. If Mannarkudi of Cauvery delta is getting dry, other districts will also be affected. The entire linked ground water fountain will be damaged. Ground water will no longer be available for drinking or agriculture purposes. Drinking water needs will not be satisfied from Chennai through Rameswaram. Selling an enriched land (which is a livelihood for a great society, a cultural monument, motherland for a number of animals and birds, and many other) to extract gas is equivalent to a senseless brute selling his mother for his luxury.The feigned silence of Manmohan’s government to reject Tamils’ rights to Cauvery water raises the suspicion that it consciously prevents water from reaching the Cauvery Delta. Manmohan government which is always against Tamil’s rights on Mullaiperiyar, Cauvery and Paalaaru, taking full rights on Cauvery delta, which is the mother land for Tamilars for thousands of years, and exchanging it to the companies for huge profit is without base. Manmohan Singh’s idea to let millions of agriculturalists seek other professions is against national interest. The freedom given to us by our ancestors, sacrificing their lives, is not to sell ourselves and our Nation’s resources to companies. Let’s save our Nation though it takes our life. We will not allow such company people to enter our Nation. CONTENT IN GREY: The Central Government of India had provided license to a company called Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited (GEECL) to extract Methane gas from the delta areas around Thanjavur and Thiruvarur. The state government has signed an MOU permitting to dig the land and provide other related help including environmental approvals to extract methane in the presence of M.K. Stalin on 04. 01. 2011. It’s been planned to extract Methane from 8 taluks in 2 districts. The coal-bed methane extraction plan of Indian Government will lead to the depravity of Tamilars’ basic needs like food, water and shelter and may force people to move out of the state as refugees. It’ll spoil Tamilars’ cultural places of worship, and cultural icons. What’s the urgent need for implementingmethane project? What do we get by losing a vast landscape? Area of land assigned to extract methane and coal: 691 sq. km. (1,71,190 acres). Consider only 1,60,000 acres out of this: Income from 2160 kg of production twice a year per acre for 30 years: Rs. 20,736.00crores Income from production of pulses worthRs. 9000 per acre for 30 years: Rs. 4,320.00crores WoodTimber/firewood 2 tons per acre @ Rs. 2000 per ton once in every 5 years: Rs. 384.00 crores Suppose the number of cows doublingin five years. Income from selling the cows (760000*4000*6): Rs. 1,824.00 crores Suppose the number of goats doublingin two years. Income from selling the goats (670000*2500*15): Rs. 2,512.5 crores Total: Rs. 29,776.5 crores Sugarcane and groundnut production, coconut farming, fisheries, handicrafts, small-scale production and other income sources were not taken into account. The economic evaluation for the land that providesjobs and shelter to lakhs of people wasalso not included. Gas value The company had told that only 60% of the available 0.98 trillion cubic feet of gas (i.e., 0.588 trillion cubic feet) can be extracted. Estimating the value as Rs. 30 per cubic meters of gas: Rs. 49,989.00 crores Considering royalty and tax to be paid to the government as 20%, maximum amount the government could get: Rs. 9,997.7 crores Total: Rs. 10,000.00 crores Compensation to be paid to common man/land owners Money to be paid to the landowners: Approx. Rs. 300000 lakhs per acre for 160000 acres: Rs. 4800 crores Cost to build 400000 house(Rs. 200000 per house): Rs. 8000 crores Cost to build 100000 cattle shed (Rs. 50000 per shed): Rs. 500 crores Total:Rs. 13300 crores Is it necessaryto extractmethane gas drilling till underworld? No, it’s not necessary. Methane could be extracted from decomposed/waste materials as well. Methane could be extracted in environment friendly ways from animal waste, bird waste, and human waste or from decomposing leaves or plants. But Manmohan’sfavourite private companies or international companies will not come forward to extract methane from these materials since they won’t be able to get huge profit from such projects. We need to decide whether it is Manmohan’s economy or national interest. How much methane could be extracted from the decomposing/waste materials? Let’s take the waste materials from the Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Naakai districts to account. Methane could be extracted from animal waste or farm waste: 1084911 Fuel/gas that could be extracted per day: 1273360 Cow dung of 11 lakhs cows with 10 kg dung from each cow: 110.00 lakhs kg 76.00 lakhs kg Waste of 12.75 lakhs goats with 2 kg per goat: 25.5 lakhs kg Waste of 12 lakhs humans: 36.00 lakhs kg Farm waste: 100.00 lakhs kg Total:347.5 lakhs kg Estimate of 0.03 cubic meter of gas per kg of waste: 10.425 lakhs cubic meters Evaluating Rs. 30 per cubic meter of Methane per day: Rs. 312.75 lakhs 30 years’ worth of gas: Rs.34246.00 crores If the techniques to use waste from Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Naakai districts are learnt, the government can earn nearly 3.5 times more profit than the royalty and tax paid by Great EasternCompany. If the farmers are supported to grow cattle/livestock, the profit could be doubled. Ample amount of electricity can also be generated with the methane from villages. Production of dangerous/harmful to environment electricity from nuclear/thermalreactors can surely be avoided. If livestock rearingis encouraged and wastes are purchased, themethane from villages could be made a growing source of energy. Fertilizer companies are not required and could be closed. (Just think about the waste that could be collected all over Tamil Nadu). Indian government with everything in handrunningbehind Obama is a comic tragedy.The society that has grown with plenty of ancient art symbols, temples, ponds, houses, small businesses grown from time to time, artists, instrumentation experts, and knowledgeable persons would be treated with respect. The decision to sell Mother India for just Rs. 10000 croresis Indian government’s brutal cunningness and ignorance. The government’s activity supporting a foreign company for mineral theft isan unforgiveable offence. The companies are rapidly approaching with attractive advertisements that they will provide compensation for the land and jobs to all people. They are arrivingwith deceitful plans to move native people away from the land. Farmers/peasants have had enough trusting false promises over the past 6 decades and lost their lands and life. We will raise one voice. Cauvery delta is our mother’s lap. We will protectCauvery delta even if last light of our lives fade. To the Central government! Manmohan government! Dishonesty is well-read! Don’t delay further! May Cauvery be opened to us!! Never take methane or coal. Don’t dare to touch Cauvery delta! உள்ளற்கஉள்ளம்சிறுகுவகொள்ளற்க அல்லற்கண்ஆற்றறுப்பார்நட்பு தீநட்பு 798 திருக்குறள் End notes: 1) As with all carbon based fossil fuels, burning coal-bed methane releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. Proponents of the CBM industry argue that the amount of CO2 released per kilowatt of energy produced is less than that produced by traditional coal burning power stations, and so is a partial improvement. CBM (Coal-bed Methane) production also involves release of methane into the atmosphere, often referred to as fugitive methane. Recent studies have found that fugitive release may be as high as 4 to 9% of the total produced by a project. Methane is rated as having 72 times more effect on global warming than CO2 over 25 years, so there are significant concerns about the ultimate effect of CBM production. (Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_bed_methane) 2) CBM wells are connected by a network of roads, pipelines, and compressor stations. Over time, wells may be spaced more closely in order to extract the remaining methane. Additionally, the produced water may contain undesirable concentrations of dissolved substances. Depending on aquifer connectivity, water withdrawal may depress aquifers over a large area and affect groundwater flows. ( The original article author is Thirunavukkarasu and published in Poovulagin Nanbargal in Tamil . Translated in English by Shobana )
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 15:46:15 +0000
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