CGECB notice to Bharat Aluminium Company for closure of thermal power plant

The Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CGECB) in September 2017 issued notice for the closure of1200 MW thermal power plant of Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO).

The decision was taken following major breach in its ash dam wall recently. The power plant is located in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district.

Key highlights

• The notice pertaining to the closure mentioned that ash slurry water from the damaged ash dam is polluting water of a Belgiri nullah passing near the plant that drains into Hasdeo river. Water of the river is mostly used for irrigation and at some places for drinking purpose in the region.

• Taking serious cognizance of violation of environment norms, Aman Kumar Singh, the Chairman of the CGECB, asked the boards regional officer for immediate necessary action in the direction to shut the plant under provisions of the Water Pollution (Prevention and Control) Act 1974.

• The Board has also asked BALCO for immediate measures to repair the dam, so that ash slurry could be prevented from going into the canal.

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About Bharat Aluminium Company Limited

• Bharat Aluminium Company Limited is an Indian aluminium company.

• It was incorporated in the year 1965 as a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) and it was the public sector. It was the first public sector enterprise in India which started producing aluminium in 1974. However, in 2001, it was taken over by Vedanta Resources, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

• Development of special aluminium alloys for “Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile” – Agni and “Surface Missile” – Prithvi have been significant achievements of BALCO.

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