Nagpur

The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company's (Mahagenco) Khaparkheda and Koradi thermal power plants are contaminating groundwater which is endangering the lives of locals and damaging their livelihood, says a study.

The study that was carried out jointly by Nagpur's Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD), Pune's Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, and ASAR Social Impact Advisors Private Limited found that due to these plants, surface and groundwater are contaminated with toxic metals like mercury, arsenic, aluminum, and lithium. It has recorded widespread contamination of air, water, and soil due to unscientific disposal and handling of fly ash.

A survey revealed that 18 out of 21 villages have been affected due to the dumping of fly ash. It has also been found that airborne fly ash is leading to extensive air pollution.

"These plants are creating difficulties in the survival of the people residing nearby. The pollution is increased due to toxic ash released from plants being mixed in the air," Leena Buddhe, Director, Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD) said.

"We have released a report after a discussion held with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Ministry of Environment and Forest, and other bureaucrats," Buddhe said.

The CFSD director said, "the situation is very grim and pollution level is very high in nearby areas. If the action is not being taken on time then we have to relocate 21 villages as their livelihood and health are adversely affected."

Akshay Bile, a farmer said that farming was becoming very difficult as the soil is becoming toxic and unproductive.

"These plants should shut down. There is no productivity in this area as it used to earlier," Bile said.

Another farmer, Ramkrishna Bide added, "We are not able to grow tomato chili and flowers in the land as the soil is very toxic."