NTPC to go for mechanised bagging of fly ash

NTPC’s thermal power plant at Kahalgaon in the state is setting up bagging machines in the unit for mechanised packing of ash for use in cement firms in North-East, after warning from pollution control board and protests from locals against open filling of fly ash.

“Six bagging machines are expected to start working from November-end this year,” D K Gupta, Additional General Manager, Environment Management Group of NTPC, Kahalgaon told PTI today.

The six machines would fill 4,800 bags an hour, he said.

Initially, the machines would scientifically deal with 4,000 metric tonnes of fly ash daily coming out from thermal power plant, Gupta said.

Kahalgaon Super Thermal power station is the seventh station of NTPC with an installed capacity of 4x210 MW (Stage 1) and 3x500 MW (Stage 2).

Presently, ash disposal is done manually in open on the sides of National Highway 80 and near to Ganga river creating environmental problem.

Chairman of state Pollution control board Subhas Singh told PTI in Patna that taking serious note of environmental problems on this account, the board has asked the plant to deposit Rs 10 lakh as security money for taking safe environmental measures.

“If the plant continues to violate the norms and goes ahead with open filling of fly ash in sacks in open violation of norms, the board can recommend closing of the unit too,” Singh said.

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