A proposal of setting up 47 new thermal power plants in the backward Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has met stiff resistance from various quarters as it will use up large portion of water in nearby rivers, which have almost dried up due to poor monsoon last year.
Vidarbha, which is already a major producer of thermal energy in Maharashtra, has presently the installed capacity of 4525 MW electricity through its four power stations at Koradi, Khaperkheda (both in Nagpur), Paras (Akola) and Chandrapur.
The proposed generation units will adversely impact the farming community due to huge water consumption from existing water bodies.
The Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS), which has a total installed capacity of 2340 MW including 210x4 and 500x3 units, has been facing severe water crisis and six of its power generating units --- three units of 210 MW and three units of 500 MW --- have been closed down due to scanty rainfall last year and non-availability of water from Irai river which flows through Nagpur district.
According to a spokesman of Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company (Mahagenco), Koradi was getting .07 million cubic metres, Khaperkheda .06, Chandrapur .33 and Paras .02 MCM water from nearby rivers and other water bodies.
Maharashtra Water Resources minister, Laxmanrao Dhoble during his recent visit had already warned that 60 pc of the existing power plants will suffer due to water scarcity. Meanwhile, former Union Minister and Nagpur Congress MP, Vilas Muttemwar has taken up the issue of proposed new units in Vidarbha.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, Muttemwar pointed out that the Maharashtra government has assured 471.18 Million Cubic Metres of water to the new plants from dam reservoirs, lakes and tanks, obviously by diverting the supply meant for irrigation.
Vidarbha is already facing acute shortage of water. Due to lack of irrigation and poor financial plight of farmers, the region has witnessed 40,000 suicides from 1997-2009, Muttemwar said. Also, pollution is a great problem in the region with Chandrapur occupying the third position in the country.
Commissioning of more coal fired power plants will not only aggravate the already existing problem, but will also ruin the rich forest cover, he said. The proposal for addition of 20,000 MW power generation by 47 companies is bound to create multiple problems, the minister said in the letter.
"I hence request you to evolve a policy of restricting the concentration of coal based power plants in one particular region to avoid water scarcity, pollution and health hazards." He has sought a direction to the state government to restrict the number of power plants in Vidarbha region.
Further, Muttemwar raised the issue in Lok Sabha recently under rule 377 and drew the attention of the goverment towards it.
