Greenpeace activists demonstrate on harmnful effects of coal

Mumbai, Mar 12 (UNI) ''Greenpeace'' activists today staged demonstrations in front of Hotel Rennaisance at Powai here to protest against the continued large scale usage of coal on the inaugural day of the 6th Coaltrans India conference.

The activists said that through the demonstration they hoped to send a signal to participants like National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Coal India Limited to stop ''killing the climate'' and that the Government should implement a rigorous framework for clean energy usage.

Srinivas Krishnaswamy, a Greenpeace activist, said there is an urgent need to reduce the excessive dependence on coal. ''The companies promoting coal should realise they are endangering the future of millions of Indians, especially the poor, the coastal cities and the economy as a whole by their irresponsible act of promoting coal when climate-friendly options exist,'' he added.

He also rubbished the new industry concept of ''clean coal'', said there was no such thing.

''It is only a public relations concept developed by the industry to justify itself in a world threatened by catastrophic impacts of climate change, he alleged. Even the most efficient coal-fired power stations emit more carbon dioxide than those using other fuels,'' he said.

UNI