Highlighting serious environmental and public health hazards caused by the Koradi Thermal Power Plant
At a press conference held on Friday, around 15 NGOs, activists, and members of a housing society also came together to demand the immediate cancellation of the proposed two units of 660 megawatts (MW).
NAGPUR: Highlighting the serious environmental and public health hazards caused by the Koradi Thermal Power Plant, Organizations opposed to its expansion have also warned to “use democratic and legal means” to protect the area from further pollution.
At a press conference held on Friday, around 15 NGOs, activists, and members of a housing society also came together to demand the immediate cancellation of the proposed two units of 660 megawatts (MW).
Having said that Nagpur was also one of the most polluted cities in the state according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Organizations under the auspices of the ‘Koradi Climate Crisis’ have also said that the new units will only further degrade air and water quality.
Countering the claims in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the project, the detractors said there is no power shortage in the state. “Many power plants are closed due to lack of demand. Nagpur district already has an installed capacity to generate more than 7,000 MW of electricity from coal,” they said.
More than 50,000 tonnes of fly ash is being generated per day
Environmentalists criticized the authorities for not fully exploiting clean energy sources. “The state is lagging behind when it comes to meeting renewable energy targets. Despite having immense potential, solar energy is not explored to the desired extent. Also, rooftop solar power is discouraged by power distribution companies,” They said.
Earlier in his letter to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Environmentalists had also pointed out that the government plans to operate at least 30% of agricultural feeders in each district on solar energy by December 2025 under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0, there will be no need for new coal units.
TOI is also reporting about the massive fly-ash pollution that is taking place from the power plant. “More than 50,000 tonnes of fly ash is being generated per day which is being dumped in ash ponds as the use of fly ash is negligible. In addition, huge amounts of water for irrigation are diverted for power generation,” the agitators said.
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