(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the pollution caused by thermal power
plant of Sonbhadra of U.P. due to which the water of the rivers of that area has become
contaminated;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI
NATARAJAN)
(a)&(b)There are six Thermal Power Plants in District Sonbhadra of Uttar Pradesh, which
are
(i) Shaktinagar Thermal Power Plant of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC),
(ii) Rihand Thermal Power Plant, NTPC,
(iii) Anpara A & B Thermal Power Plant, Uttar
Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL),
(iv) Obra Thermal Power Plant,
UPRVUNL
(v) Anpara C Thermal Power Plant of M/s Lanco Power and
(vi) Renusagar Power
Plant of M/s Hindalco Industries.
Out of these six Thermal Power Plants, only Obra Thermal Power Plant of UPRVUNL is
discharging effluent in to river Renuka while other five plants discharge their effluent
(cooling water and ash pond effluent) in to Rihand reservoir. The Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986 to Obra Thermal Power Plant of UPRVUNL to provide Ash Pond Water Recycling
System (AWRS) for improving the effluent quality.
Further, the CPCB is monitoring water quality of Rihand river at two locations in
Sonbhadra District. All parameters such as pH, Temperature, Conductivity,
Nitrate+Nitrite Nitrogen, Fecal Coliform and total Coliforms are meeting the
desired water quality criteria at both the locations except two parameters i.e.
Dissolved Oxygen and Biochemical Oxygen Demand.
(c) These Thermal Power Plants are located in District Sonbhadra, U.P. which comes under
Singrauli area. The Singrauli area has been identified as one of the Critically Polluted
Area (CPA) based on Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI). As per the Action
Plan prepared for improvement of the environmental quality for bringing down the CEPI
score of Singaruli area, these plants have been asked to provide AWRS in a time bound
manner.