From: NAPM India <napmindia@napm-india.org>
Date: Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Subject: [initiative-india] INVITATION People's Convention on Energy, 30th November and 1st December 2010 NAGPUR
[Sorry for Cross Posting ! Do Spread the Word ! All Are Welcome !]
INVITATION
People's Convention on Energy
30th November and 1st December 2010
Vinoba Bhave Vichar Kendra (Sarvodaya Ashram) Near Bole petrol Pump, Nagpur – Amravati Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra
November 16, 2010
Dear Friends, comrades, Colleagues,
Greetings !
We invite you to the People's Convention on Energy to take forward to develop comprehensive national perspective on sources of energy. On August 1 - 2, 2010, Bhopal, National Consultation on Energy, organised by (National Alliance of People's Movements) NAPM, demanded a comprehensive national perspective about all the sources of Energy, the actual requirement and sustainability oriented consumption pattern in planning energy security for the nation and not consider energy as electricity alone. The Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) of the Central Government falls short and misses the very chance to be anything but comprehensive.
The IEP projection of 8,00,000 MW demand by 2030 based on 8% economic growth is an exaggerated projection. This demand is calculated on the basis of GDP centered projection and instead of a need based projection. Experts opined that the 13.8% national deficit in the power can be met by bringing down the Transmission and Distribution loss, which is at 28.65%. IEP has projected a combined generation of 1,40,000 MW by 2032 from renewable sources like solar wind and bio-mass. Instead of more fossil fuel and big dam based projects, the government should tap the renewable sources to meet the energy needs, the consultation demanded.
The Central Government, the Planning Commission and all the state agencies have been working up the Energy and Power 'paranoia' for the past several years, especially since initiation of the Globalisation process; to make sure that people surrender their everything to the vulgar and one-sided national growth. The need of the hour is sustainable development and promotion of the non-conventional and traditional sources of energy rather than the huge investment in the thermal, hydro and nuclear power projects, leading to further destruction and loss of human, environmental and natural resources. Till date a large number of families uprooted and displaced due to large number of thermal and hydro power projects remain to be rehabilitated. The question which became key in 90s regarding the 'Development paradigm' as to; for whom, how and at what price needs to be asked yet again, ie. energy for whom, how and at what cost.
The workshop concluded with discussions on alternatives, the requirement for comprehensive energy outlook and analysis and drastically decreasing our dependency on fossil fuel and large hydro based power, while increasing the production of solar and other such renewable resources. NAPM and associated groups vowed to take all these forward, to disseminate information, dispel myths about energy and bring to task the governments. The challenges include the lack of a political force that opposes large scale and destructive energy production, which is being driven by the strong industrial lobby, that none of the political parties want to upset. Instead, privatization of energy production and it's increasing consumption have fuelled the marginalization of adivasis, dalits, women, labour groups, and other people. At a time when 40% of India is still not electrified and yet energy production is increasing, we need to understand how much more electricity is really needed, and also be able to analyse distribution and consumption patterns better.
While the national consultation decided to step up the struggles on many fronts, it demanded that:
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The governments must stop misguiding people, on the issue of energy and power. The energy demand needs to be analysed from the point of view of meeting the energy and requirements of majority of India's have-nots and not just the corporate industries or the urban greed.
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Need to drastically decrease dependency on fossil fuel and large dam based power projects and need to immediately shift to solar and other renewable alternatives.
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The government should put a halt on diverting water resources, including from dam reservoirs, for thermal projects.
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The government should maximise efficiency of existing projects – thermal and hydro and take measures to check T&D losses on war footing and take immediate steps to mitigate the social and environmental negative impacts caused by them.
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Instead of the Eminent Domain principle, which grants government the power to acquire people's lands without even a notice in some cases, communities should be given ownership over resources, without whose consent, those should not be taken away for any projects.
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Rationing of urban and industrial use of power and reallocating that to meet the power needs of the hitherto un-electrified sections of the population.
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It should immediately declare moratorium on new thermal, nuclear and large hydel power projects, the land acquisition for the same and engage in truthful cost & benefit analysis and audit of ongoing power production process and increase the R&D support for alternative energy production
The Consultation was initiated by NAPM but joined by many other alliances, federations, advocacy, campaign and research groups to take forward the discussion, in this context groups have decided to hold a Peoples convention on energy in Nagpur on 30th November and 1st December 2010.
DRAFT Programme :
DAY 1 : Tuesday, November 30, 2010
10:00 Registration and Welcome
10:30 - 1:00 Plenary Session
1:00 - 2:00 LUNCH
2:00 - 5:00 Panel discussions
Panel One : Testimonies and lessons learnt from struggles against coal, hydro and nuclear power plants by movement groups
Panel Two : Decentralised Renewable Energy as an alternative – Concepts and Case Studies
Panel Three : Deconstructing the present Integrated Energy Policy and constructing an alternative Energy Paradigm in the wake of newer challenges emerging due to Climate Change
DAY 2 : Wednesday, December 1, 2010
9:30 – 11:30 : Three Working Groups on Strategies : Sector / Theme Wise
11:30 – 1:30 : Building the network, the way forward for the campaign and Nagpur Declaration
2:00 pm onwards : Public Meeting, Press Conference and March to Nagpur Assembly
We do hope you will be able to join us for this important convention and join the struggle towards achieving an energy scenario reflective of principles of equity, justice and self-reliance. Do block these dates and make your travel arrangements accordingly and do get in touch if you need further information.
In Solidarity,
Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan – NAPM
Vilas Bhongade, Goshi Khurd Prakalpgrast sangharsh Samiti – NAPM Maharashtra
Gabriele Dietrich, Pennuruimai Iyyakam & NAPM – Tamil Nadu
Rajkumar Sinha, Bargi Bandh Visthapit and Prabhawit Sangh, Madhya Pradesh
Guman Singh, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, Himachal Pradesh
Nishant Mate, Jangalwasi Adhikar Bachao Manch, Vidarbh – NFFPFW, Maharashtra
Braj Kishore Chaurasia, Jay Yuvak Kranti Dal, NAPM MP
Vimal Bhai, Matu Jan Sangathan – NAPM Uttarakhand
Ajay Kumar, APVVU – NAPM & Sarasvathy Kavula – NAPM Andhra Pradesh
For details, contact:
Pravin Mote (09313879073) pravin.mote@gmail.com
Madhuresh Kumar, NAPM (9818905316) madhuresh@napm-india.org
Nishant Mate (09423407433) nishant24@gmail.com
Vilas Bhongade (09890336873)
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Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
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