National workshop on Living Soils organised

Bihar Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh inaugurated national workshop on Living Soils organised by Greenpeace in Patna on February 7, 2014.The subject of the workshop was "biomass strategy for rejuvenating soil and sustainable rural livelihoods".
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Greenpeace presents report on renewable energy

Greenpeace India presented its report on the need of renewable energy in Patna on December 13, 2011. The report stated that renewable energy is future of country's energy security.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui 

Greenpeace urges state government to demand restructuring of RGGVY

Patna, October 18, 2011: In the backdrop of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar preparing for the upcoming National Development Council (NDC) meeting, Greenpeace released its national report on the flagship rural electrification scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) here.

The report is a compilation of the social audit, public hearings and consultations on RGGVY conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to understand the socio-economic impact of the scheme on the rural populace and to find out if it has been able to meet its mandate.

“Given the energy crisis and problems associated with RGGVY in Bihar, the state government should take a more proactive stand in strengthening the scheme. The NDC meeting is a good opportunity for Bihar government to demand a bigger share for decentralised renewable generation (DRE) under the scheme. DRE can play an important role in ensuring energy access and provide quality and reliable electricity to rural areas in Bihar,” said Arpana Udupa, campaigner, Greenpeace India.

Bihar has been reeling under a power crisis. While Bihar plans for increasing generation through thermal power plants, uncertain coal supply and allocation issues are big impediments to these ambitions. The report highlights that given such a scenario, localised generation and supply of power through renewable energy is crucial for ensuring electricity access in Bihar.

300 million people in India, comprising of 25% of households still lack access to electricity, though RGGVY has delivered the grid to almost 90% of rural India, as per the 64th National Sample Survey. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts this figure will be 293 million in 2030.

“The expected capacity addition under 11th Five-Year Plan and 12th Five-Year Plan is more than 50,000 MW and 100,000 MW respectively. Even after 64 years of independence 40 per cent rural households are without electricity whereas there is 100 per cent electrification in urban areas. With the power situation in most states deplorable, whether such capacity addition with no focus on DRE or RE will provide energy access to the rural population is debatable. Decentralised generation from renewable sources provides the opportunity for rural areas to energise and empower themselves without having to wait for the vast grid network to be properly energised for rural areas”, said Ramapati Kumar, campaign manager, Greenpeace India.

Press release

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

RGCVY a failed scheme in Bihar, says Greenpeace

People have been left disheartened, marginalised and yet again without electricity, reveals Greenpeace’s social audit of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) conducted in Madhubani and Saran districts of Bihar.

At a press conference in Patna on May 7, 2011, Greenpeace members alleged that there were no government representatives or representatives from the implementing agencies to listen to people at the public hearing conducted by Greenpeace in Saran and Madhubani.

“We invited all concerned departments and agencies of the Union and Bihar government to learn about loop-holes in RGGVY. The public hearing was the perfect platform for authorities to witness and understand the real problems of the people, hear their views on the scheme and incorporate the learnings to make a real difference on the ground with regards to rural electrification,” said Arpana Udupa, campaigner, Greenpeace India.

“The learning from social audit will help government of Bihar to formulate its position on RGGVY to make it stronger in 12th five year plan,” added Arpana Udupa.

The social audit was conducted between 30th March and 5th May in six villages of Madhubani and nine vil-lages of Saran district. Villages were randomly selected and based on the data provided by the government. Social audit teams, including RTI activists, went from door to door asking residents about the implementation of the scheme.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Say no to nuclear energy

Greenpeace activists took out a candle light procession saying no to nuclear energy in Patna on April 11, 2011.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Greenpeace to conduct social audit of RGGVY

SAKHI and Greenpeace will conduct the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) social audit process in Madhubani district of Bihar. In Madhubani, a total of 1024 villages across 21 blocks have been incorporated in the RGGVY project.

Nav Jagriti and Greenpeace will conduct the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) social audit process in Saran district of Bihar. In Saran, a total of 1023 villages across 20 blocks have been incorporated in the RGGVY project.

This was disclosed by Greenpeace officials at a press conference in Patna on March 24, 2011.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Greenpeace installs giant renewable energy dome in Patna

Patna, October 20, 2010: Greenpeace unveiled the “Urja Kranti Kendra”, a four-storey high globe powered entirely by solar energy, to drive home the message that Bihar could take a lead by choosing renewable energy (RE) to solve its power crisis.

At the launch, the environmental watchdog released a report card exposing the various parties’ performance in their support for the only viable and sustainable energy option for the state. They also released ‘Empowering Bihar ,’ a booklet of articles and photographs to prove that RE is already providing energy services to over one lakh people in the state.

“This Urja Kranti Kendra is to showcase the RE solution to the people and policy makers in Bihar. The state is already leading the way in decentralised energy solutions. If it gets political support, it can lead the country in building an energy infrastructure of the future,” said Samit Aich, Executive Director of Greenpeace India, who was present at the launch.

Releasing the report card, Ramapati Kumar, Greenpeace campaigner, said, “While we are happy to see that there is support for renewable across party lines, clearly, the JD (U) – BJP combine manifesto has best articulated its vision of renewable energy.” Greenpeace gave the Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto four stars, Janata Dal (United) three and a half and Rashtriya Janata Dal three stars on the basis of each of their manifesto texts on renewable energy, and on creating the required framework in the state to ensure investment in RE.

Under the traditional, centralised system, Bihar is reeling under a power crisis. It has the lowest per capita power consumption; 93 units as against the national average of 715 units. According to a recent study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, the state has the highest peak deficit at 33.7 per cent. It is largely dependent on import of energy from other states and the central grid, as most of the power plants and coal reserves were sectioned with Jharkhand after bifurcation in 2000.

With the installation of the Urja Kranti Kendra, Greenpeace seeks to prove that Bihar has plenty of renewable energy sources that can be tapped to fill the state’s electricity deficit, and allow Bihar to leapfrog to an energy-secure future.

Also present at the inauguration was Dr Razi Ahmed, Gandhian and head of the Gandhi Sangrahalaya.

Greenpeace press release

Greenpeace challenges political parties to fight Bihar Assembly elections on development plank

Patna, September 25, 2010: Greenpeace today called upon political parties to focus on people’s issues in the elections instead of jeering at each other. The past few days have seen political parties and key leaders targeting each other through poetic mudslinging.

Bihar is in the thick of political activity and parties are busy working on their strategy. Leaders are busy changing their position, party and ideology. Media space is being overtaken by issues related to political dynasty, attacks and counter attacks, poem renditions, corruption charges, caste, class and religion. As is the case generally in elections, all political parties have forgotten the main issues of development, which should be fundamental to their election.

“Before the election dates were announced, there was optimism in Bihar that the transformation will continue and elections will be fought on issues of development. This hope has been replaced with despair with the return of identity politics, and political mockery. This melodrama needs to be stop and be replaced with political consensus for development”, said Ramapati Kumar, campaigner, Greenpeace India.

Many issues are plaguing Bihar – lack of electricity being the foremost. There have been constant protests all over the state for better supply of energy. The state government is even purchasing electricity from other states at higher rates. But that also is not helping. A recent report by Assocham says that Bihar has the highest peak deficit at -33.7 per cent.

In spite of such pressing issues, not a single party until now has come forward to present their vision on how the state could become self reliant in terms of energy.

“Bihar Renewable Energy Development Support Network has been demanding political parties to espouse renewable energy to empower Bihar and illuminate the lives of millions still living in darkness. There is an opportunity for Bihar to choose an alternative energy path which will take the state in the direction of sustainable and inclusive development,” said Ramapati Kumar.

To compel parties to focus again on development issues during elections, Greenpeace along with civil society network is going to launch a campaign to advocate decentralized renewable energy as the solution for the energy needs of the state. The campaign will reach out to lakhs of people and political leaders to make sure that development remains the centre stage of elections.

Press release from Greenpeace

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Political parties urged to put green energy in poll manifestos

Greenpeace India and civil society groups urged political parties of Bihar to include development of renewable energy in their poll manifestos. The call was made during a day-long workshop organized in Patna on August 25, 2010.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui