Mini Hydro Power Construction Vs Faith of Fish Fauna in Kitulgala Area, Sri Lanka

Mini Hydro Power Construction and Its Impact on Some Unique Fish Fauna in Kitulgala Area, Sri Lanka.

by Prince Manamperi

As an island with a total land extent of 65,610 Sq.km , Sri Lanka has possessed a fascinated aesthetic delight with a remarkable biological diversity per unit area for, flowering plants, amphibians, reptiles, freshwater fish, freshwater crabs and mammals, etc. in the Asian region. The southwestern part of the country, where the region is referred to as the wet zone receives up to 3000 mm of rainfall annually. Biodiversity richness seen in southwestern part of the country can be attributed to a wide variety of climatic, topographic and soil conditions that exist in the island that has resulted in a diverse array of aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

Some unique fish fauna in Kelani River Basin (Kitulgala area) 

Kelani River, as the 4th longest river in the country (145 km) with the 2nd largest watershed (2292 sq km) is basically appeared in Ytiyantota area at Kegalle district in Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka and discharges 5389 Million Cubic Meter (MCM) annually into the Indian Ocean. The tributaries of the area harbor several endemic species of freshwater fish (Systomus asoka, S. pleurotaenia, S. spilurus, Puntius titteya and Pethia reval) as well as some migratory fish species such like Sicyopterus gresisus, S. halei, Sicyopus jonklaasi, Schismatogobius deraniyagalai. Of which, Sri Lanka Asoka Barb (Systomus asoka) can be identified as an endemic species, which has restricted to only the Kithulgala area (Figure 1), and in accordance with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Red List, Sri Lanka Asoka Barb has been categorized as a Critically Endangered (CR) freshwater fish species in National Conservation Statu (NCS) . In addition to that, Sri Lanka Black-Lined Barb (Systomus pleurotaenia), Sri Lanka Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya), Sri Lanka Lipstick Goby (Sicyopus jonklaasi) (Figure 3), Redneck Goby (Schismatogobius deraniyagalai) and Sri Lanka Redfined Barb (Pethia reval) have also been categorized as Endangered (EN) creatures in NCS.

Figure 1: Sri Lanka Asoka Barb (Systomus asoka)

Not only the above mentioned species, Devario micronema is the recently rerecorded species of endemic fish (Figure 2) restricted to Kithulgala area and this species has been recognized as an Extinct (EX) species of fish in the wild for many decades. 

Figure 2: Devario micronema 

Figure 3: Sri Lanka Lipstick Goby (Sicyopus jonklaasi)

Threats to fish fauna in Kelani River Basin.

Generally, habitat fragmentation and degradation due to deforestation, Illegal collections of fish fauna , Sand mining activities, Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and Climate Changes are the threats directly affected on natural environment the Kelani River Basin. Even though, establishment of small hydropower plants in Kitulgala area, occurrences massive permanent damage to the natural environment crumpling its ecosystem services and aesthetic value of the Kitulgala area for more than three decades disconnecting the wildlife connectivity.

Current status of mini hydro power plant and negative impacts on natural environment.

Thirty-two mini hydro power plants with 55.61 MW generation capacities are in operation on the Kelani River basin and the total lengths of Affected Stream Stretch (ASS) in the Kelani River basin is 47 km. Before it implements any of mini hydro power projects it is an essential requirement to conduct an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to make the project better in fundamental ways searching for the most environmentally friendly alternatives, minimizing negative impacts, maximizing positive impacts and by integrating environmental costs and benefits into the overall project analysis. That is the environmental feasibility of the project.

The EIA Process in Sri Lanka is clearly described in the Part IV C of the National Environmental Act Amendment Ac; of 1988 and the Government Extraordinary Gazette No 772/22 of 1993. Even though, due to poor EIAs conducted by disqualified or money minded people, some irreversible and irreparable environmental problems have already arisen. Most of the EIAs have been highly concern only about the moving creatures and neglected some aquatic flora and its, sessile animals. Because, some EIAs were willing to manipulate original data, in accordance with the agendas have made by some other parties and perhaps they may have accepted that depending on some other direct or indirect benefits. 

Lack of Environmental Monitoring Action Plans (EMAP) and their negligence during operational stage are the other reasons to arise such kind of environmental impacts due to mini hydro power construction. Because of as per the recommended mitigation measures, fish passes or fish ladders need to be construction to allow the free migration. In order to minimize the impact on the migratory fishes, it is recommend to release certain quantity of water from the weir so that the spawning and nursery beds do not dry out completely. Even though, according to some personal communications, some Kill fish species (Aplocheilus. Sp) have been recorded in upper streams of the Kelani River basin. Weather the kill fish is recorded their migration through a fish ladder is controversial, due to their vertical mod of swimming. And also, according to Silva (2015) plant designs indicate projects as run-of-river systems, none of the visited projects in the Kelani River basin have not been maintained required flow between the weir and powerhouse forming dead stream stretches unless lateral tributary inputs were available. That is, they may have discussed some mitigation measures to mitigate the environmental impacts, it will not be followed by the responsible authorities. So, those are the appropriate evidences for the negligence of Environmental Monitoring Action Plans and poor or lack of monitoring by relevance.

The above mentioned point endemic fauna and flora are being authenticated the distinctiveness of Kitulgala area and those that creatures are made some voice on behalf of the sensitivity and unseen biodiversity of the particular area. Though, as we known, in the construction industry “not all the environmental impacts can be mitigated and not all the mitigation measures are equally effective”. Accordingly, before it implements such kind of above mentioned construction activities in biologically sensitive areas, government and other responsible vigilante should be made their attention to conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to evaluate, “weather the project is really needed” for the particular area. Even though, inadequate training, indifference/laziness, low morale, interferences, corruptions and inadequate monitoring are the main reasons have to be constrained by the liable organizations. Nevertheless, vigilance on such kind of man-made disasters, society awareness and assertiveness are the social responsibilities have to accomplish on behalf of the nature. Furthermore, knowledge of the procedural laws and other relevant laws, methods of application, Principles of Investigation and Prosecution processes are the definitive progression of the solution. Determining that, consent it to think what and when should be the treatment for mini hydro power mafia? Otherwise we are consciously involving in a terrible ecological crime. 

Acknowledgement 

A special tribute is going to the Renowned Environmentalist, Mr. Jagath Gunawadena, Attorney-at- Law, (Environmental Law) and Mr. Samantha Gunasekara, Former Deputy Director-Biodiversity, Sri Lanka Custom. for giving necessary guidelines to make the article success and by devoting their valuable time. I also express my gratitude to the Wildlife Conservation Society - Galle for their support providing necessary information.