NTPC asked to shut down 4 units

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BHUBANESWAR: In a significant order, the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) on Tuesday directed National Thermal Power ..

BHUBANESWAR: In a significant order, the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) on Tuesday directed National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to shut down its four power generation units at Talcher Super Thermal Power Station (TSTPS) in Kaniha for failing to take appropriate fly ash management measures.
The Stage II of the NTPC plant includes four units of 500 mw each. The pollution board directive came after its scientists took stock of the actions taken by the power major following the ash pond breach on June 3. The breach had led to gushing of ash slurry into open fields and even threatened contamination of river water. Amidst concerns, the board had inquired into the incident and suggested measures.

However, a stocktaking revealed that the existing ash management measures are not in tune with what the board had suggested. "Going by the current capacity, the ash ponds will last till October. Besides, raising new dykes will take at least a year," sources in the board said.

The TSTPS generates about six lakh tonne fly ash every month. Earlier this month, a threemember technical committee of the board had inspected the ash pond after the breach and advised NTPC to reduce generation and make alternative source of discharge.