Green bodies urge govt to keep eye on Badarpur emissions

NEW DELHI: The green bodies of the Capital along with the Delhi Pollution Control Board and the Central government agencies will keep a tab on the emission levels of the Badarpur Power Plant as it has been earlier identified as one of the most polluting thermal power plants in India.

Earlier also, in a bid to remind the Delhi government about the deterioration in air quality, the green bodies of Delhi have called for immediate implementation of National Clean Air Programme and closing down of Badarpur Thermal Power Plant. In a high-level meeting with the officials of various agencies, the green bodies of the Capital have urged to keep an eye on the emission levels of the Badarpur plant. The experts noted that with the onset of summer, the need for the electricity also increases, which forces the power plants to illegally generate power beyond the permissible limits.

The Capital's air quality in the last two months has stayed 'Poor', noted the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Environment activists urged to "Break free from Coal, Clean Air Now", highlighting stationary sources like power plants which are one of the largest and easiest sources to tackle provided there is a will.

Various research has shown that the thermal power plants like Badarpur add a higher quantity of PM 2.5 in the city air and which stays in the environment.

A study titled "Heat in Power" analysed and rated coal-based thermal power plants on nearly 60 environmental and energy parameters. It showed 40 per cent of the plants (around 18 of the 47) as having a score less than 20 per cent, based on various parameters.

NTPC's Badarpur plant was declared the poorest performing of all. This plant, which contributed a relatively meagre share of Delhi's power (7.9 per cent during April to October 2015), contributed around 80-90 percent of the particulate matter, SOx and NOx, generated by the power sector in Delhi.

NTPC's Badarpur plant was declared the poorest performing of all. Earlier, environmentalists in Delhi had protested the reopening of the Badarpur plant.

The Supreme Court authorized Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority ordered reopening of the plant from March 1, as the pollution levels had decreased.

"The news (reopening of the power plant) is a big setback to the efforts and the progress made towards reducing public health crisis associated with air pollution," Sunil Dahiya, campaigner, Greenpeace India, said.