BTPS polluting Damodar River, Saryu warns of NGT action Bokaro DC assures strict measures against violations

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, August 5: Bokaro Thermal Power Station (BTPS) is once again under fire for polluting the Damodar River. Jamshedpur West MLA and environmental activist Saryu Roy has raised alarm over the renewed dumping of ash and shale waste directly into the Konar River, a tributary of the Damodar, bypassing the designated ash pond.

Concerned citizens from Bokaro Thermal had reportedly sent photos and videos of the pollution to Roy, prompting him to take immediate action. He informed that the Deputy Commissioner of Bokaro, who also serves as the Chairman of the District Environment Committee, had been made aware of the situation. Roy urged the DC to take concrete and strict action against the BTPS management for violating environmental norms under the Water Pollution Act.

In a telephonic conversation, the Bokaro DC assured  Saryu Roy that the Sub-Divisional Officer of Bermo had been instructed to investigate the matter and that BTPS had been warned to immediately halt all activities causing pollution of the Damodar River.

Roy recalled that in 2004, when he launched the Damodar Bachao Andolan, BTPS was one of the worst polluters, dumping fly ash, shale, and oil waste directly into the Damodar via the Konar. It was only after sustained pressure that the plant constructed a dedicated ash pond, significantly reducing pollution. However, Roy expressed concern that the plant seemed to have reverted to its old polluting practices.

He added that last year, a breach in the ash pond wall led to ash and shale flowing directly into the river, after which he had raised the issue publicly. A team from DVC headquarters had then visited the site and assured that such incidents would not recur.

“Despite that assurance, BTPS has resumed polluting activities over the past two days. This is not just a breach of environmental norms but also a breach of public trust,” Roy stated.

He warned the BTPS management that if immediate steps were not taken to stop the pollution, he would escalate the matter to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). He also expressed confidence that the Bokaro DC would impose penalties and initiate criminal proceedings against the power plant’s management if violations continued.