Important decision to be taken by Tangedco in 4 locations in & around north Chennai TPS?
Posted on: 26/Dec/2022 9:30:12 AM
Many complaints have been received regarding continuous pollution due to coal based thermal power stations in north Chennai. In this scenario, the state power utility, Tangedco has proposed to test the ambient air quality at 4 locations in and around north Chennai.
A bid has been floated by Tangedco to test the ambient air quality at 4 locations in and around the NCTPS 1 for 24 weeks. As per the direction from TNPCB, bids to test the ambient air quality at 4 locations in north Chennai were invited. This was mentioned by an official from Tangedco. Within the premises of NCTPS 1 but outside the plant, ambient air testing would be carried out at some selected locations. It was explained by an official that already the real time emissions from the stacks of the TPS are being monitored by the PCB.
It must be taken into account that the TNPCB was getting many complaints regarding the thermal units and the Tangedco was instructed to set up ambient air monitoring stations.
Fugitive emissions from openly stored coal, fly ash and emissions from vehicles etc would be monitored by the ambient air monitoring. It is necessary to set up additional ambient monitors outside the plant premises in places such as Ennore and Thiruvottiyur etc. This was pointed out by Chennai based environmentalist Mr. N. Jayaraman.
The air quality must be monitored for the sake of workers and that is due to the fact of occupational hazard in the plant. For the sake of the health of the common people, it is important to have additional monitoring outside the plant.
Mr. N. Jayaraman spoke about how the existing air quality monitoring has revealed that Tangedco violated the emission norms. He demanded action to be taken against Tangedco. He added that the TNPCB must enforce the rule but it did not have power.
