BIRD HIT

PROPOSED TATA PLANT

IN TANZANIA THREAT
TO FLAMINGO HABITAT
ARTICLE BY: KIRTIMAN AWASTHI
DOWN TO EARTH
(30 Sept. 2007 edition)

xxxxx

 TATA Chemicals to setup Soda ash plant

5,00,000 tonnes of soda ash annually.
Huge boost to Tanzanian Economy ($ 300
million)
Coal-fired Power station & township for 1200.
Operational by 2010.
TATA claims, natural extraction of Soda ash has
smaller carbon foot prints, so it will have smaller
environmental impacts.

FEAR

Natural Extraction of Soda Ash is

cheaper, but this economy comes at a
price.
Pumping brine to the plant, returning
depleted water to lake.
Flamingo This species feeds primarily
on Spirulina, algae which grow only in
very alkaline lakes.
Lesser Flamingos are extremely
Huge concentrations of Lesser Flamingos in
sensitive to disturbance.
Lake Natron. Photo by Sean Avery
Tanzanian govt. resisted Kenyas
project to build a dam on river Ewaso
Nyiro in 1990.
Water is a critical resource for the local
Maasai community whose lifestyle
centres on their livestock, which
constitute their primary source of food.
In 15 hours, the plant will consume
enough water to meet the needs of
Local Maasai women at Lake Natron
about 40,000 heads of livestock.
(Photo by Ken Mwathe)

THANKYOU FOR YOUR TIME

REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_flamingo
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Lake
Natron/104930416259298
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/6586
http://www.birdlife.org/africa/news/ecology-now-knocksout-lake-natron-soda-ash-mining
Down to Earth, 30 sept. 2007 issue.