Chandrapur: A scientist from union ministry for environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) visited Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS) here after a complaint was lodged by MoEFCC regional committee member Suresh Chopne, alleging discharge of toxic water from thermal power plant into Irai river last month. The discharge of highly acidic water from CSTPS had taken a big toll on aquatic life in the river and forced authorities to shutdown water supply to parts of the city till the toxicity went down.
Scientist SureshkumarAdapa, accompanied by Chopne and CSTPS officers, inspected the RanvendliNullah through which acidic water was drained into the river. He also inspected the reject coal yard, the place where rain water reacts with coal to form acidic runoff, which is released in the nullah. Chopne informed that scientist Adapa also inspected the fly ash pond, effluent treatment plant, coal handling plant and electrostatic preceptors in the plant. He later held a meeting with chief engineer, CSTPS, Raju Burde and took details of the pollution control measures taken by the plant management for control of air and water pollution. Adapa also met officials of MPCB regional office here and took details of pollution related irregularities that the department had noticed in the plant.
Chopne said Adapa took notice of the fact that there is around 1.80 lakh tonnes reject coal in the coal yard. The highly acidic water draining out from this place is discharged without any treatment into the nullah. This untreated water is hazardous for aquatic life and also for the citizens due to its high toxicity.
CSTPS officials have begun the process of auctioning off the reject coal. Auction of a lakh tonne of coal has been accomplished and it will be lifted next month. The process of auctioning the remaining 80,000 tonnes of coal is underway. The plant management is going to make a permanent weir on the nullah and start a water treatment plant at the reject coal site to treat acidic drain water, Chopne said, citing details of the meeting. He said Adapa will soon prepare a report on the basis of this inspection and submit it to MoEFCC, which will help regulate pollution from CSTPS.
