NTPC Kaniha, a 3,000-MW power station, is exploring land acquisition for 600 acres at Mosunihota (150 acres) and Badahira (450 acres) villages for a new ash pond for sustainability of the power station." said company Executive Director Kaniha Ram Kuber on Thursday.
He told reporters that the station is facing resistance by local villagers for work near a 225-meter land adjacent to the Stage-II ash dyke. The management is making all its efforts for the ash pond work by negotiating with the people. About 200 contractual labourers of Derang village are working at the ash dyke area. In addition, whatever required raw materials like sand quarry are procured through vendors based at Derang.
The station is also going for mine void filling, for which necessary recommendation from the MoEF was received in March 2017. The NIT for the same was published in December 2017. Further, statutory forest clearances are being taken.
The station is equipped to control pollution as the various work awards related to ash dyke management have been completed. All measures are being taken to check fugitive ash emission including up-gradation of ESP in its working units.
For expansion of 800 x 2 (1,600) MW at the plant, a feasibility report has been sent to the Corporate Centre. But the company’s thrust is on renewable energy. The NTPC at present has installed a 870-MW capacity solar power unit; and a 50-MW wind power is also in its portfolio, Kuber said.
At present, the power station in association with the district administration is taking various measures to transport ash from its dyke, e.g., mine void filing system and exploring for a new ash pond adjacent to the existing dyke to maintain sustainability in the long run. For ash utilisation, the station uses it to make bricks, which are used for construction various infrastructure works like construction of classrooms and community halls under the company’s CSR initiative. The station produces more than one crore fly ash bricks. To promote greenery, the station has so far planted a 13.4 lakh trees to conserve environment.