MahaGenco marks Koradi ash bund for its proposed project
| Date :07-May-2023 |
By Kaushik Bhattacharya :
The pond, abandoned for a while now, is being considered despite a thick bamboo forest developed by CSIR-NEERI
Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MahaGenco) is planning to use its abandoned fly ash bund in Koradi to dump the ash from its proposed 2x660 MW coal-based Supercritical Thermal Power Plant at Koradi. A thick vegetation of bamboo plantation has been developed by CSIR-NEERI on this land successfully which may now be ruined due to MahaGenco’s decision to use it for dumping of fly ash.
According to MahaGenco’s Environment Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan (EIA/EMP) for the project, a detailed layout design and area calculation of the project, has been done and a total of 168.75 acre (68.28 Ha) land (excluding ash bund, railway siding) would be sufficient for this. Therefore, the existing Koradi ash bund will be used for the purpose. Going by the EIA statement, as the Khasala ash bund had been already active and had also witnessed a collapse during last monsoon, the only option that remains is the Koradi ash bund, which was abandoned by MahaGenco a while ago. The abandoned bund, meanwhile, was developed into a bamboo forest by CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI).
them,” claimed Sudhir Paliwal, Convenor, Vidarbha Environmental Action Group. “According to MoEF&CC, the 100% utilisation of fly ash is mandatory and if it is the rule then how the new project is claiming to dump fly ash in their existing ash pond?” asked Paliwal.
It is clearing showing that the new plant will raise the environmental problem for the people of Nagpur in coming days, he claimed.
The EIA/EMP also claimed, “Total water requirement for proposed thermal power plant is 34.69 Million Cubic Meter (MCM) per annum. The source of water will be tertiary treated sewage water from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Water would be conveyed through cross country pipeline at a distance of 11 km. 27 KLD water for domestic purposed from Pench dam water will be used.”
Currently, NMC is selling 150 MLD sewage treated water to Khaperkheda thermal power plant. As per some officials of MahaGenco, “The treated sewage water is damaging the equipment in the plant.”
If the treated water is damaging the equipment then how the new project is claiming to use the same treated water for their 2x660 MW project?
Leena Buddhe, Founder, Centre For Sustainable Development (CFSD) said, “Thermal power plants in Koradi and Khaperkheda are the major users of fresh water of Nagpur district. Additional plant will also use the same potable water and the claims they made for utilisation of treated sewage water is all just eye-wash.”
Buddhe said, “There are many loopholes in the EIA report prepared by MahaGenco and the project will not benefit the region. Instead of this, the project should be installed in Nashik area where the government is planning to shut the plants there and start this new one to spoil the environment of Nagpur.”