Environmental Hazards of the Indian Thermal Power Sector

Fly ash is one of the numerous substances that cause air, water and soil pollution, disrupt ecological cycles and set off environmental hazards. Air pollution is caused by direct emissions of toxic gases from the power plants as well as wind-blown ash dust from ash mound/pond. The air-borne dust can fall in surface water system or soil and may contaminate the water/soil system. The wet system of disposal in most power plants causes discharge of particulate ash directly into the nearby surface water system. In this study, attempt is made to find the relation between air pollution caused by emission and adverse impact on health consequences of the local people, and whether there is any detrimental effect on income of the local people due to work day loss caused by illness which, in turn, is the effect of emission from the thermal power plants. Emissions from four Power Plants have been selected for the study. These are Bandel Thermal Power Station (BTPS), Budge-Budge Generating Station (BBGS), Titagarh Generating Station (TGS) and Kolaghat Thermal Power Station (KTPS).