Raising voice against unscientific fly-ash dumping in Nandgaon village

Nagpur: Raising a strong voice against unscientific dumping of fly-ash in the village of Nandgaon, a city-based organization has filed a complaint with the state’s MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board), CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board), State environment minister Aaditya Thackeray, and various ministers. The local people have also demanded the complete closure of the project.

According to the latest complaint filed by CFSD (Centre for Sustainable Development) Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station (KTPS), state-run power generation company Mahagenco has started releasing coal ash slurry into the Nandgaon pond without taking mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the local people.

Along with this, highlighting other violations, it has been said in the letter of complaint that the pitching of the ash dam has not been completed at all, Which is a big threat to the villagers. Simultaneously, the dam is also releasing harmful ash from about 8-9 discharge points without HDPE lining.

complete cancellation and closure of the ash dam demanded by Nandgaon villagers. The Centre for Sustainable Development wrote to Thackeray that he can also foresee the huge environmental, health, and livelihood impact of the ash pond in the near future. The water of its ash is already entering their own fields and destroying the crops completely. And it has also started contaminating the groundwater.

Total Dissolved Solids

MahaGenco should also come out with a concrete plan for almost 100% fly ash utilization, Organization has further demanded. They should strictly adhere to these norms, the letter said. And an environmental catastrophe must also be avoided such as the fly-ash ponds in Waregaon-Khairi and other villages. By Mahagenco, strict action was taken against violations.

Fly-ash utilization at the Khaparkheda plant was barely around 14%, which, experts said, has not increased significantly at all. The latest research by the Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, an environmental organization, also shows that none of the ash ponds at the Koradi and Khaparkheda plants have liners at all, which is causing the leakage, The data shows that till the year 2018-19.

The presence of high levels of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) and other elements in these areas was also found in a site visit by a regional officer of the Union Ministry of Environment, dated January 30, 2019. Along with this, mandatory monitoring of groundwater quality was also not being done at all.

Also Read: Nagpur Municipal Corporation plans to cancel nine 15-year-old fire engines