Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS) is the biggest ‘pit head’ Thermal Power Station of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board. The project is located near Chandrapur, Maharastra [1] Many of the plant's units have now become old (Nos. 1 and 2 units had started as early as in 1983 and 1984 respectively). Also, the heights of the chimneys are less than the prescribed norms for thermal power stations. These old units of CSTPS are constantly violating pollution control standards. |
Description
Basic Data
| Name | Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station, India |
| Country | India |
| Province | Maharashtra |
| Site | Village -Tukum, Town - Chandrapur |
| Accuracy of Location | HIGH local level |
Source of Conflict
| Type of Conflict (1st level) | Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy |
| Type of Conflict (2nd level) | Thermal power plants |
| Specific Commodities | Electricity Coal |
Project Details and Actors
| Project Details | This power station has 7 units (4X210; 3X500) and total installed capacity of the project is 2340 mw. The project was developed in four stages. In the first stage the construction works was started in 1977 and the first unit of 210 MW units started its production August 1983. In the second stage third and fourth units were constructed and operationalized in 1986. In the third stage, in 1985 and 5th and Unit 6th were commissioned in 1991. Fourth and final stage another unit was constructed and commissioned in 1997. The coal requirement of the station is about 38000 Metric Tons per day. All coal requirements are supplied from various open cast collieries located within the radius of 50 Kms from this power station [1, 4]. |
| Project Area (in hectares) | 11212 |
| Type of Population | Rural |
| Start Date | 2010 |
| Company Names or State Enterprises | Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd (Mahagenco) from India - owner |
| Relevant government actors | Maharastra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) |
| Environmental justice organisations and other supporters | Eco-Pro Chandrapur, Maharastra |
The Conflict and the Mobilization
| Intensity of Conflict (at highest level) | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| When did the mobilization begin | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups Mobilizing | Farmers Local ejos Neighbours/citizens/communities |
| Forms of Mobilization | Community-based participative research (popular epidemiology studies, etc..) Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Other Environmental impacts Potential: Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economic Impacts | Visible: Loss of livelihood, Violations of human rights, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
Outcome
| Project Status | In operation |
| Pathways for conflict outcome / response | Compensation Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Strengthening of participation Technical solutions to improve resource supply/quality/distribution Application of existing regulations New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study |
| Development of Alternatives | Maharashtra Pollution Control Board have relaxed the rules and have prescribed unit Nos. 1 and 2 standard of 150 mg/Nm3 particulate emission as a special case. Even with all these relaxations, CSTPS has failed to bring discharge under control with the specially prescribed standards despite it has spent on repairs of these electrostatic precipitators. The electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) of these two units are designed to control SPM of 757 mg/Nm3 and are unable to achieve prescribed standards of 150 mg/Nm3. Activists are demanding immediate scrapping of unit Nos. 1 and 2. [2] |
| Do you consider this as a success? | No |
| Why? Explain briefly. | MPCB officers carry out stack monitoring (pollution inspection) and found violation of norms on every instance during the last three years [2]. The plant has installed electrostatic precipitator systems in 2003. In 2007 it has installed permanent ammonia dosing system for both units. However, CSTPS has failed to meet the emission standards in the two old units [3]. |
Sources and Materials
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Meta Information
| Contributor | Swapan Kumar Patra |
| Last update | 30/05/2014 |
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