Bokaro Thermal Power Station Polluting Damodar River: Saryu Roy

Ranchi: Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy has accused the Bokaro Thermal Power Station (BTPS), operated by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), of polluting the Damodar River. Contaminated effluent—containing ash, oily substances, and harmful chemicals—is flowing directly into the confluence of the Konar and Damodar rivers.

Pipeline Failure and Negligence

In a formal statement, Roy explained that the power plant should typically direct this toxic waste into an ash pond for proper disposal. However, several failures in the infrastructure have led to direct contamination:

• Burst Pipeline: A pipeline carrying effluent to the ash pond burst just before its destination, causing waste to leak into a nearby drain that feeds into the Konar River.

• Recurring Issues: Roy noted that this is not an isolated incident, citing frequent pipeline bursts and ash pond wall collapses due to management negligence.

• Capacity Concerns: He alleged that BTPS habitually discharges waste into the river because the management fails to regularly clear the accumulated ash from the ponds.

Call for Immediate Action

The Damodar Bachao Andolan (Save Damodar Movement) activists documented the pollution on Saturday morning and shared photographic evidence with Roy.

• Appeal to Authorities: Roy sent several photographs of the discharge to the Deputy Commissioner of Bokaro. He urged the Commissioner, in his capacity as Chairman of the District Environment Committee, to stop the pollution and take strict action against BTPS management.

• Regulatory Responsibility: He emphasized that the State Pollution Control Board holds the statutory responsibility to act against industries that fail to curb pollution.

• Future Risks: Roy warned that if the management does not address these issues now, they might intentionally discharge waste during the monsoon to hide evidence of pollution within the increased water flow.