BATHINDA: Close on the heels of the reports of radioactive thorium and uranium in fly ash matter found at the thermal plant site in Maharashtra, Bathinda residents have intensified their demand for shutting down of Bathinda thermal plant.
Recently, Bhaba Atomic Research Center`s study had revealed high uranium concentration in Bathinda and its peripheral area where two thermal plants are situated. M M Behal, convener, Joint Action Committee (JAC), formed by Bathinda residents to fight the fly ash problem caused by the thermal plants, said, “It seems the state government is not serious about pollution caused by the thermal plants in Bathinda. The announcement by the deputy CM of shutting down the plant had come as a relief but it once again proved just a political statement.”
JAC has been fighting against the fly ash problem for the last one decade and had filed a petition in Punjab and Haryana high court, forcing the authorities to give an undertaking regarding modernization of of the three out of four units of the power plant by June 30, 2011. However, the work has not been completed yet, said Behal.
“Earlier we were facing the problem of high level of fly ash and coal smoke, but after National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning found traces of radioactive thorium and uranium in the fly ash lying at a thermal plant in Maharashtra, out worries have increased manifold. We are planning to approach the high court once again,” said Behal.
(Times of India)
