Residents distribute sweets as GNDTP unit-IV closes

Residents of the colonies located around the GNDTP celebrate the closure of the unit IV for renovation in Bathinda on Saturday.Harvinder Dhillon
Rajay Deep

Bathinda

Finally, the authorities of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) in Bathinda closed down its most polluting power generation unit (unit-IV) at 5:10 pm on Saturday.

The denizens celebrated the shutting down of the unit just like a festival distributing sweets to each other as they saw it a good step to provide major relief from the raining fly ash, which had made their life miserable. During a recent pollution check survey conducted by the PPCB, the level of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) emitting from the chimney of the Unit IV was noticed to be 333 mg/Nm3, which was more than double against the prescribed limit that was 150 mg/Nm3. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) KS Pannu on September 28 visiting the plant had ordered the authorities concerned to shut it down with a time limit of 40 days. During the visit, chairman and his team had found that the level of SPM in one of the two renovated units was also above the prescribed limit. So taking notice of that also, the PPCB had directed the authorities to use ammonia gas and reduce the concentration of pollutants in the emission or face action.

Complying with the orders, the GNDTP officials after getting approval from the senior authorities of the state electricity department on Saturday closed down the unit for the repair and maintenance (R&M).

As per the information, the GNDTP has allotted the R&M work of unit III and IV to the BHEL at the cost of Rs 469 crore. The unit III is already closed due to R&M and it is expected, as per the work order, to restart by January 31, 2012. The repair work of unit IV, which includes the dismantling and restructuring after changing boiler and enhancing the fields of electronic precipitators (EPS), would become operational within eight months. The unit IV was commissioned in 1979 and as per the standards of the thermal engineering it had completed its total life of 25 years in 2004. However, witnessing the shortage of power in the state, the power department was not in a position to close it down. Confirming the facts, chief engineer of the GNDTP, HP Singh said, “As the unit had served its life it was mandatory to repair it thoroughly.” “After renovation, the SPM level would come at 90 mg/Nm3 and also improve the power generation,” he added.Meanwhile, convener of the joint action committee formed for launching agitation against the thermal pollution, MM Behal said, “It is the result of the series of protests we launched for couple of years. So we are all happy over development.”
Highlights
� The level of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) emitting from the chimney of the Unit IV was recently noticed to be 333 mg/Nm3 against the prescribed limit that was 150 mg/Nm3.
� The raining fly ash has been causing respiratory as well as skin and eye problems to the denizens. The PPCB on September 28 had ordered the authorities concerned to shut it down with a time frame of 40 days. The GNDTP has allotted the R&M work of unit III and IV to the BHEL at the cost of Rs 469 crore.
� Out of total four units, the unit III is already closed for R&M and it is expected to restart by January 31, 2012. The Unit IV, which has been shut down on Saturday, would restart generating power after getting overhauled in eight months.
� The activists of the Joint Action Committee formed to launch agitations against the thermal pollution had filed the PIL in the Punjab and Haryana HC.