CHANDRAPUR: Even as Chandrapur is ranked fourth in national pollution index, many people tend to ask what the fuss over is all about. Visit Neha Nagri, a small housing colony on the outskirts of Chandrapur. From rooftop to house floor and vehicles parked outside to cooking utensils kept in the kitchen are all coated with a thick cover of black coal dust.
Trees have turned black and the residents keep doors and windows always shut due to fear of dust. A large number of people suffering from respiratory diseases speaks of high pollution this area is subjected to. Two separate coal handling plants (CHP) located right aside the colony has brought such a hazard to the lives of the people in the colony that they curse the moment when they decided to purchase a house there.
The colony was established in 2003 and 52 houses were gradually sold by the builder. Around 350 persons reside in this colony. Coal handling plant of Durgapur opencast mine and Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS) located right adjacent to the colony are mainly responsible for pollution. People's cries for controlling pollution fall on deaf ears of WCL, CSTPS and MPCB authorities.
"Nobody here dries clothes outside the house for fear of being blackened with the dust. Dust emission from the two CHPs is so high that the clothes kept in cupboards and stuff inside the refrigerator get matted with the dust. Even if you stay for a while in the open and spit, it will have black stains of the coal dust," says Shobha Choudhari, a resident of Neha Nagri. A white car parked in the open literarily turned black in a span of a week, she added.
Children's parks always remain deserted as their parents do not allow them to play outside. "The respiratory diseases are frequent and children are the worst sufferers. One or other member of the family is always suffering from cough or other respiratory problem. Many residents here developed asthma and bronchitis during the last few years of stay," said Sudhakar Hivarkar, now an asthmatic.
Housewife Kiran Jumnake who cleans the premises before it is dawn to avoid diseases has a telling story to share. "I fell sick due to respiratory problem and was in the bed for a year. Now that I have recuperated, I start cleaning premises at 4am so that other members of the family are spared," she said. Kalawati Khanke claimed that they have to clean the house floor for 3-4 times a day to keep it clean. "Even guests invited for lunch or dinner often find dust particles in food. 'Never open the window' is the message the residents give," she says.
Adv BN Devikalar, who sent his two children out for education for fear of pollution, said "We forwarded several complaints to WCL, CSTPS and MPCB authorities. While WCL and CSTPS took no cognisance of the pleas, MPCB officials carried out monitoring exercise but did not take any action against those responsible for the problem." He said that coal from Durgapur mine is transported from CHP to CSTPS. It is loaded on a ropeway from CSTPS's CHP which carries it directly to the power plant.
"It is the dust emission from two CHPs that bring hazard. Authorities in both the CHPs make least use of sprinklers installed at the respective places," alleged Devikalar. After the people of Neha Nagri approached Eco-Pro, a NGO, its president Bandu Dhotre contacted MPCB field officer SV Ingole who inspected the site and prepared a report giving details of the woes of Neha Nagri. "Not only Neha Nagri but also the localities around are faced with the same problem. The impact zone of the coal dust emission from the CHP changes with the direction of the wind. Use of sprinklers for 24 hours in both the CHPs is must to resolve the matter," said Dhotre. He claimed that plan to meet the WCL and CSTPS authorities and ask them to convene a joint meeting to resolve the problem.
Trees have turned black and the residents keep doors and windows always shut due to fear of dust. A large number of people suffering from respiratory diseases speaks of high pollution this area is subjected to. Two separate coal handling plants (CHP) located right aside the colony has brought such a hazard to the lives of the people in the colony that they curse the moment when they decided to purchase a house there.
The colony was established in 2003 and 52 houses were gradually sold by the builder. Around 350 persons reside in this colony. Coal handling plant of Durgapur opencast mine and Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS) located right adjacent to the colony are mainly responsible for pollution. People's cries for controlling pollution fall on deaf ears of WCL, CSTPS and MPCB authorities.
"Nobody here dries clothes outside the house for fear of being blackened with the dust. Dust emission from the two CHPs is so high that the clothes kept in cupboards and stuff inside the refrigerator get matted with the dust. Even if you stay for a while in the open and spit, it will have black stains of the coal dust," says Shobha Choudhari, a resident of Neha Nagri. A white car parked in the open literarily turned black in a span of a week, she added.
Children's parks always remain deserted as their parents do not allow them to play outside. "The respiratory diseases are frequent and children are the worst sufferers. One or other member of the family is always suffering from cough or other respiratory problem. Many residents here developed asthma and bronchitis during the last few years of stay," said Sudhakar Hivarkar, now an asthmatic.
Housewife Kiran Jumnake who cleans the premises before it is dawn to avoid diseases has a telling story to share. "I fell sick due to respiratory problem and was in the bed for a year. Now that I have recuperated, I start cleaning premises at 4am so that other members of the family are spared," she said. Kalawati Khanke claimed that they have to clean the house floor for 3-4 times a day to keep it clean. "Even guests invited for lunch or dinner often find dust particles in food. 'Never open the window' is the message the residents give," she says.
Adv BN Devikalar, who sent his two children out for education for fear of pollution, said "We forwarded several complaints to WCL, CSTPS and MPCB authorities. While WCL and CSTPS took no cognisance of the pleas, MPCB officials carried out monitoring exercise but did not take any action against those responsible for the problem." He said that coal from Durgapur mine is transported from CHP to CSTPS. It is loaded on a ropeway from CSTPS's CHP which carries it directly to the power plant.
"It is the dust emission from two CHPs that bring hazard. Authorities in both the CHPs make least use of sprinklers installed at the respective places," alleged Devikalar. After the people of Neha Nagri approached Eco-Pro, a NGO, its president Bandu Dhotre contacted MPCB field officer SV Ingole who inspected the site and prepared a report giving details of the woes of Neha Nagri. "Not only Neha Nagri but also the localities around are faced with the same problem. The impact zone of the coal dust emission from the CHP changes with the direction of the wind. Use of sprinklers for 24 hours in both the CHPs is must to resolve the matter," said Dhotre. He claimed that plan to meet the WCL and CSTPS authorities and ask them to convene a joint meeting to resolve the problem.
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