Mannar wind turbines spark anger over fish, floods — SkimNews
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- Venkatasamy Kalimuththu observed a sharp decline in fish hauls since the Mannar wind turbines were installed, attributing it to blade shadows deterring fish from shallow waters.
- Lesley Jesurajan of civil society group OPEnE stated opposition to the turbine location, arguing renewable energy should be developed elsewhere to avoid ecological disruption.
- Benedict Mary Vijiliya linked concrete foundations and access roads from the turbine project to blocked rainwater drainage, causing monsoon flooding that damaged homes and contaminated wells.
- A. Stanislas Peries reported a steep drop in fishing incomes in Pesalai, with daily earnings falling from 5,000 to under 1,000 rupees since the turbines became operational.
- Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka acknowledged local complaints and said feasibility studies are underway to address flooding, while the government has frozen new wind projects in Mannar.
- Father S. Marcus accused authorities of failing to deliver promised mitigation measures and said residents have filed legal complaints, facing a counter-complaint for disrupting government plans.
Why it matters: Fishers and coastal residents in Mannar face declining livelihoods and damaged infrastructure, while the government’s 70% renewable energy target by 2030 clashes with local resistance rooted in tangible environmental impacts—delaying clean energy expansion despite economic pressure from rising fuel costs.
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