- Environmentalists expressed concern
Chandrapur, The coal ash used for power generation is piped to the ash band of CTPS at the local Chandrapur Mahaaushauni Power Station from where this ash is supplied to the cement industries. To supply ash from the units of CTPS power generation center to the ash band, a pipeline was laid over the river Irai.
As the pipeline is very old, due to leakages from many places, the ash from these leakages is getting absorbed in the river. After one such video was recently released on social media, a social worker has complained to the pollution control board and demanded action on CTPS management.
The same management claims that the ash leakage continues continuously and as soon as the information is received, the leakage of ash is stopped. It does not cause any harm. Experts related to environmental protection say that the leakage of ash is having a profound effect on human life. This needs attention.
On Tuesday afternoon, as soon as ash leakage was seen from the pipeline leakage, some people took out its video and went viral on social media. On seeing some environment lovers, they immediately informed the CTPS Management and the leakage in the pipeline was rectified immediately after the management informed the concerned contractor. But during this time, a large amount of ash had got absorbed in the water of the river.
In view of the continuous leakage of ash, CTPS has entrusted the responsibility of repairing the leaks to private contractors. Those who have been given the contract up to a distance of few km. The persons appointed by the contractor keep a watch on this leakage. As soon as a leak occurs, it is rectified immediately. It is said that the leakage of ash started from 4 to 5 in the afternoon and lasted for several hours and when the video went viral on social media and after getting more information, CTPS took immediate action.
Ash leakage has a very deep impact on life – Prof. Chopne
The President of the Green Planet Society associated with the environmental sector, Prof. Suresh Chopne said that 10-12 years ago, ashes used to mix on a large scale in the Irai river. He raised his voice in this context and forced the CTPS to take measures. Due to leakage in the pipeline, it has become common to have such incidents once or twice a week.
After getting the ash in the soil, it goes through the soil in the rain and goes into the river. In this way, the process of getting ashes in the river on a large scale continues. He told that the ash contains heavy metals which include arsenic, barium, boron, lead, cadmium, coranium, mercury, silico aluminum, calcium oxide, carbon etc.
Due to use of these heavy metals in the water of the river and used as drinking water, people are prone to many other diseases including cancer, mental diseases, heart diseases, kidney disorders. The residents of the city are supplied with water from the dam, but those who use the river water as drinking water are affected by it. The water life of the area where the ash of CTPS is getting mixed mostly in the river has completely ended. The water of the concerned area is completely polluted.
The existence of the river is in danger due to the mixing of ash in more evidence – Vaidya
Sanjay Vaidya, convener of Jalbiradari, says that the dissolving of ash in water due to pipeline leakage has become a part of routine. The ash gets dissolved in water and some part gets deposited in the vessel. But if this continues to happen on a large scale and continuously, then after burning the vessel of the river completely leveling, the river will not exist. Large scale overburden of ash was noticed last time also at the time of river cleanup. CTPS management needs to look into this.
Sanjay Vaidya