Don’t plough farmland cleared of fly ash: Khaparkheda plant to Nandgaon villagers

Nagpur: While state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray has given directives in favour of fly-ash affected villagers of Nandgaon, the Khaparkheda power plant authorities seem to be paying no heed to it.
Till date, around 40-50 % of fly-ash has been cleared but the plant officials have reportedly not taken any concrete measures to ensure employment or due compensation to the affected villagers.
To make their ends meet, villagers started preparing fields for sowing crops in the land which is cleared off the ash. “We didn’t receive the due compensation and are still fighting a legal battle for it. Our family members didn’t get employment. So we decided to start farming again before the onset of monsoon,” they told TOI.
However, in a recent letter written to the gram panchayat, the plant’s chief engineer directed villagers to not carry out farming or any activity in the ash bund area. The letter also stated that the disposal of fly-ash was stopped due to “technical reasons” and legal action would be taken against villagers “using the land for any purpose”.
TOI was the first to report on the massive pollution being caused by unscientific dumping of fly ash in Nandgaon. Being generated from Khaparkheda plant, the ash waste which was being released in a 750-acre big dig had become a threat to human lives. Around 1997, the state power generation company Mahagenco had acquired 750 acres of farmland for this ash bund.
Following his visit to Nandgaon, Thackeray directed the plant to stop dumping the ash. On February 15, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) issued a notice to the power plant, directing it to clear fly ash from the village in 15 days. As reported by TOI recently, the ash is yet to be cleared.
Now, the chief engineer’s letter has created fear and confusion among locals who were promised restoration of their farmlands. “First, our agricultural fields were acquired without giving us the due compensation and employment. Then, our lives were put at stake due to high pollution. And now we have been warned of legal action,” they said.
Sources told TOI that in a recent online meeting, Thackeray had asked the power plant officials to restore the land and put it to effective use. “Some pipelines have still not been removed despite state’s order. Moreover, the letter written to us clearly states that the ash dumping was stopped due to technical reasons. The crisis of pollution has been nowhere mentioned. Does this mean this step is only temporary,” asked the villagers, adding that even now, 50-60% ash is yet to be cleared.
Director of Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD) Leena Buddhe stated that even though the land legally belongs to Mahagenco, it doesn’t give them the right to pollute. “If the land can’t be handed over back to the villagers, it should be used for their welfare. They have suffered immensely due to lack of employment and poor compensation,” she added.
According to the plant officials, the letter was issued following complaints by villagers themselves. “We were informed by them that people from outside are forcibly fishing in the area. Also, our pipelines have been stolen. We need to safeguard our property,” they said.
Officials added that a decision is yet to be taken on utilization of the land.
IN A NUTSHELL
Almost 40-50% fly-ash cleared
Farmers started preparing their fields for sowing
Khaparkheda plant issued notice, warned of legal action
Stated ash disposing was stopped due to technical reasons
750-acre ash bund land legally belongs to plant
Villagers demanding fair compensation and employment