Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 18 May 2024 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Adani Green Energy’s wind energy project, coming up in Sri Lanka’s northern Mannar and Pooneryn districts, has been challenged in the island’s apex court on grounds of potential environmental impact and “lack of transparency”.  
The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), one of Sri Lanka’s oldest environmental organisations set up over a century ago, on May 16 filed a Fundamental Rights petition at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, with the aim of “protecting the unique ecosystem of Mannar Island”.
The Society’s petition argues that the project “poses a severe threat to the island’s unique biodiversity and pristine landscapes,” especially in Mannar. Mannar is the “southernmost point of the Central Asian Flyway used by innumerable migratory species”, while also being home to several indigenous water bird and bat species, the WNPS said, contending that Sri Lankan authorities’ decision approving the project disregarded Mannar’s “singular positioning as a biodiversity hub”.  
The petition also notes that while the project has been portrayed as a “Government-to-Government initiative with India” , no details of contributions, grants, or loans from the Indian government have been disclosed.
Further, the petition questioned the credibility of the Environmental Impact Assessment carried out by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka (SEASL) before the project was cleared, and the pricing formula finalised for the sale of power from the project. Sri Lanka recently agreed to purchase power at $0.0826, or 8.26 cents, per kWh from Adani Green Energy.
While the company’s renewable energy project in Sri Lanka has earlier faced criticism for the absence of due process and its likely environmental cost, this is the Adani Group’s first legal challenge in the island.
In February 2023, Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment approved the $442-million wind power project of Adani Green Energy. The Adani Group has also committed to investing close to $700 million to build a container terminal at the strategically located Colombo Port.
[Excerpt from The Hindu “Adani’s Sri Lankan Wind Energy Project Challenged In Supreme Court” Dated 18/05/24]

Q1: What is the main environmental concern raised by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) regarding the Adani Green Energy wind power project?
(a) Air pollution
(b) Displacement of local communities
(c) Impact on the Central Asian Flyway
(d) Deforestation

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Q2: When did the Sri Lankan Board of Investment approve the Adani Green Energy wind power project?
(a) January 2023
(b) February 2023
(c) March 2023
(d) April 2023

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Q3: What is the agreed-upon price per kWh that Sri Lanka will pay for the electricity generated by the Adani Green Energy project?
(a) $0.0650 per kWh
(b) $0.0725 per kWh
(c) $0.0826 per kWh
(d) $0.0950 per kWh

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Q4: What major flaw did WNPS highlight regarding the project’s approval process?
(a) Lack of funding
(b) Inadequate technology
(c) Opaque approval process and unreliable Environmental Impact Assessment
(d) High construction costs

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Q5: Which global energy company did Adani Green Energy form a partnership with to expand its clean energy initiatives?
(a) ExxonMobil
(b) Chevron
(c) TotalEnergies SE
(d) Shell

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