Environmentalists cry foul over NTTPS pollution

• Air, groundwater & river pollution
• People, rights activists to oppose new plant
• Today’s hearing to witness public ire

Vijayawada: The public hearing on the 800 mw new plant at the Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) in Ibrahimpatnam slated for January 10 is all set to witness stiff resistance from people and human rights activists, besides environmentalists.

The gram panchayats around Ibrahimpatnam mandal have already passed unanimous resolutions against the proposed expansion and land acquisition for the ash pond. Human rights organisations, farmers and farm labourers’ associations have joined the issue and extended support to the agitating villagers, against increasing pollution.

Environmentalists have complained against pollution generated by NTTPS, while consuming coal for power generation, pollution generated from the ash pond contaminating the groundwater and weakening the soil and pollution caused by hot water discharged by the plant into river Krishna.

The Environment Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI) has found that the Krishna water is getting polluted. The water temperature is more than five degrees Centigrade, which is permissible. The EPTRI found that temperature of hot water that goes into the river from the power plant is around 12 degrees C. The plant draws water from the river to cool its towers and discharges it back in the upstream of the Prakasam Barrage.

“The NTTPS is expected to cool the water in the plant itself and then return it into the river. Unfortunately, it is not being done. The hot water is let into the river damaging its atmosphere. It is highly objectionable,” said senior environmental activist and the former chairman of the Institution of Engineers here, Chaganti Venkateswarlu.

The NTTPS has seven units, six producing 210 mw each and one generating 500 mw, with a total production capacity of 1,760 mw. The unit requires around 27,080 tonnes per day (TPD) for its full operation. The unit draws 34,04,936 kilo liters of water per day (KLD) for cooling and discharges 33,60,773 KLD into the river, through the Budameru diversion channel.

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APBC) had conducted analysis on February 22 and 26, 2013, to assess the plant’s pollution. It found that pollution from coal, ash pond and water discharged into the river was higher than permitted. The same was reported to the Lok Ayuktha, which is probing the issue, after Venkateswarlu complained.

Meanwhile, the NTTPS, sensing trouble from people, has come out with a proposal to spend Rs 21,150.6 lakh under its newly-found corporate social responsibility (CSR). It proposes to provide compound walls for schools, anganwadi centres and graveyards in the surrounding villages, provide roads, drinking water facilities and community halls.