pollution VI

Residents up in arms over fly ash
Ask DC & chief engineer, GNDTP, to take corrective action
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 28
Irked over the huge quantity of fly ash emanating from the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP), residents of the localities in the GNDTP’s vicinity asked the deputy commissioner (DC), Bathinda, and the chief engineer of the GNDTP to take immediate action to reduce the pollution or they would approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Members of the Rakh Roko Committee submitting a memorandum to the chief engineer, GNDTP, in Bathinda on Sunday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh

Around 70 members of the Rakh Roko Committee submitted a memorandum to the chief engineer at his residence this morning. The official told them about the PSEB’s decision to begin the overhauling of one of the two units in September.
Not satisfied with the assurance, the protesters then met the DC, who assured them that he would convene a meeting of the GNDTP and the PSEB staff to find an early solution to the problem.
During the meeting, the members reminded the DC of the Article 32 of the Indian Constitution (right to life), claiming that thousands of metric tonnes of fly ash emanating every year from the thermal plant was endangering their lives. They added that if the DC failed to take immediate action, they would knock the doors of the High Court.
Talking to TNS, the members said their kids have now started complaining about respiratory problems caused due to the harmful fly ash.
“People in Vishal Nagar, Panchvati Nagar, Veer Colony, Green Avenue, Partap Nagar, Paras Ram Nagar, Tagore Nagar and several other localities around the GNDTP should get themselves medically examined as many of them have now become patients of TB, jaundice, asthma, bronchitis, eye ailments and skin allergies,” they alleged collectively.
Convener of the committee M.M. Behal said, “We have submitted a memorandum to the officers concerned. If they did not take action, we will involve female members and children to press for the cause. Meanwhile, we will build pressure on the GNDTP authorities to start the renovation in July instead of September.”
Among others, Raj Kumar Garga, Sonu Oberoi, Kewal Krishan, H.K. Kapoor, Raj Mehra, Rajinder Jain, S.P. Mahajan and Bhushan Aggarwal were present.