In a major development Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment for the Government of Maharashtra Aaditya Thackeray took cognizance of the rising issue of fly ash being dumped at Nandgaon village.
Aaditya through his twitter informed that a meeting was held with stakeholders, locals, NGOs to understand the impact of pollution on ground and has requested Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) officials to look into the issue
Thackeray tweeted that “After hearing multiple complaints from Nagpur residents on fly ash dumping at Nandgaon village, I held meeting with stakeholders, locals & NGOs to understand the impact of pollution on ground & requested @mpcb_official to intervene & immediately rectify the issue.â€
“Environmental protection & economic growth must go hand in hand. We are keen on sustainable development and more so, keen on renewable clean energy in the future. One cannot come at the cost of the other. I am thankful to citizens and NGOs who brought this to my notice†he said.
“I would also like to extend my thanks to the officials from @mpcb_official, @MahaEnvCC and @connectMSPGCL who took cognisance of the issue and are working together to resolve this and on mitigation measures for such other plants across the state†he added.
On February 3 the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had sent a notice to Khaperkheda Thermal Power Station (KTPS) to immediately stop disposing and dumping ash slurry into the Nandgaon ash pond.
For months the local residents along with Zilla Parishad members from Nandgaon have been protesting against the illegal dumping of ash slurry in their farmlands, which is in a complete violation of all environmental rules. Fly ash was also being dumped without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from local residents.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray is also slated to visit Nagpur where he will also be undertaking a site visit to the thermal power stations around Koradi-Khaparkheda to assess pollution concerns soon.
A day after on February 4 Union Minsiter, Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari, had written a letter to Sanjay Khandare, CMD Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) based on the Water Pollution report submitted by Leena Buddhe of CFSD.
The report states that MAHAGENCO is not following Environmental & other norms in a process to dispose fly ash released from Koradi & Khaparkheda Thermal Power Plants.
Gadkari in his letter asked MAHAGENCO to take appropriate action immediately and inform his office about the same.
Affected villagers had requested the MPCB, Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) as well as Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray to curb the disposal of harmful pollutants keeping in mind the deteriorating health of local residents affected by pollution.
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