Fly ash from KTPS contaminates Kanhan waters

 

 

 

Fly ash got released into Kanhan river’s right bank on Saturday, contaminating the river from which the city of Nagpur sources its water supply. As the ash content was heavy, Orange City Water (OCW) stopped lifting raw water through pumps from dry well. The episode evoked sharp criticism from the activists and they demanded structural audit of the ash bund and action against authorities concerned. According to sources, a huge amount of fly ash overflowed from Khaperkhera Thermal Power Station (KTPS) near Waregaon at Kanhan intake well (dry well side). Since morning of Saturday, Kanhan river water turned milky white in colour. On further investigation and patrolling towards upstream, it was found that a stream of ash was flowing out into Waregaon drain from the ash pond of KTPS. Due to technical snag, the ash from the pond accidentally got released into the outer drain of Waregaon, which flows into Kanhan river. As the ash contaminated water of the river cannot be treated, the pumps located on the right bank of the river were stopped by OCW. Due to this, Kanhan water treatment plant operated at only 50 per cent capacity from Saturday noon to 5 pm.

 

This unexpected partial interruption in Kanhan pumping caused less and low pressure water supply in the command areas connected to Kanhan feeder main pipeline. The release of fly ash into Kanhan river evoked sharp criticism. Sudhir Paliwal, Member of Maharashtra Fly Ash Council and former Director of Mahagenco Ash Management Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahagenco, said, “The capacity of the ash pond is limited, but the amount of ash and water together is beyond that capacity. Besides, utilisation of the fly ash has not been to the desired extent. As a result, pressure gets created on ash pond and this pressure leads to breach of ash bund.” According to Paliwal, only some people controlled distribution of fly ash. Further, he alleged, structural design of the bund has problem. He rued that there existed no agency in the country to monitor fly ash bunds. There should be an independent agency to conduct structural audit and life assessment of bund, he demanded. Since the incidents of breach have been happening very frequently in Waregaon, he demanded structural audit, socio-economic audit, environmental audit of the bund. Toxic elements in fly ash have gone into water that is supplied to Nagpur. So, ash that has gone into bottom of the water body should be removed before resuming water supply, he suggested. Pratap Goswami, Organising Secretary of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), called the incident of release of fly ash into Kanhan river as ‘a big environmental threat’ for Nagpur. “It happened many times earlier also, but no concrete steps have been taken yet by the authorities concerned. There is a fly ash mafia working in the area, which sells fly ash to brick kilns at the rate of Rs 1,000/- per truck,” he alleged. Fly ash should be distributed free of cost, he said. He said that AAP had raised the issue many times and had filed FIR in Khaparkheda and Koradi police stations five years ago. But, he rued, nothing happened. He urged Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and other departments to take strong action against the culprits for polluting the water body. 

Mahagenco initiates ‘measures’ Raju Ghuge, Chief Engineer, KTPS, stated that Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) had swung into action and had initiated various measures in response to the Saturday’s incident. According to Ghuge’s statement, during regular round of Ash Handling Plant the team concerned came to know about ‘whitish discharge’ flowing towards natural nullah flowing towards Kamptee Road bridge. “It was observed that ash filter on the nullah was in completely collapsed condition. So, on war-footing, Khaperkheda TPS undertook various measures,” he added. Ghuge stated that pebbles were collected near Suradevi-Kawtha road location and brought to natural nullah on Kamptee Road bridge, to embed the pebbles to construct new filter at natural nullah. By evening, 50 per cent work of ash filter was ompleted, he added. On Sunday, the filter work will be completed and additional new filter will be constructed by Sunday. “As of now, discharge of whitish water is controlled and negligible,” he stated. The other measures he listed included toe drain cleaning to be done on war-footing and repair of previously constructed ash filter. In a couple of days, new Nandgaon ash bund will be made operational to reduce the burden on Waregaon ash bund, Ghuge said. All out efforts will be taken by Khaperkheda TPS to protect environment, he added.