Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has warned National Aluminum Company (Nalco) over the frequent leakage polluted water from the ash pond of the company’s captive power plant at Angul.
The pollution watchdog cautioned that it would stern action against the company if it fails to manage its ash disposal system effectively.
OSPCB advised the aluminium major to supply the ash to the nearby coal fields in Talcher through pipe for filling up the pits.
In October, OSPCB had sent a notice to Nalco to stop using one of its two ponds as an inspection team found cracks in one of the ponds.
"Compartment B is repeatedly cracking or subsiding, but compartment-A is available for service. In view of the above, Nalco has been directed to stop discharge of ash slurry to the compartment-B of Ash Pond-2,” the notice in October said.
Nalco said, ash carrying pipelines are already ready, but with the support of local people the process can be carried out.
The OSPCB has already slapped a show cause notice to the company for not preparing a long-term approach to manage ash disposal and asked the company why appropriate direction will not be issued to restrict power generation.
Power production is essential for the aluminium producing complex as huge amount of electricity is needed at the smelting plant. Power procurement or production usually constitutes 35 per cent of total cost of any aluminum plant.
Nalco's captive power plant has a production capacity of nearly 1,200Mw. At present, it is functioning with seven of its eight units, producing 720 Mw power.
