Deterioration in ambient air quality and Air Quality Index (AQI) in National Capital Region is the most serious health issue in these COVID times. Vehicular emissions, construction activities, road dust, industrial emissions and above all, the agro-waste (Parali) burning in the nearby states all are contributing to the smog, that threatens to have an irreversible effect on the health and immune system.
Coal fired power plants have often been accused of increased pollution, which may not always be correct. The coal fired units of Dadri are closed since October, but the ambient air quality and Air quality index (AQI) of NCRhas been deteriorating day by day. The same units were operational during the lockdown earlier this year with practically no emissions. Infact, when it comes to emissions, Dadri coal units are amongst the cleanest not only in NTPC but the whole country.
All the units of NTPC Dadri power station are equipped with state-of-the-art systems to control emissions like ESP for Particulate matter, Dry Sorbent Injection, desulfurization system for SOx emission and combustion modification for control of NOx emissions. Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) & Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) are installed for real time monitoring of ambient air quality.
NTPC Dadri thermal plant has developed the facility for co-firing of rice stubble agro-waste pellets. More than 8000 Metric Tonnes of agro pellets have been fired in last two years and this has avoided stubble/ Parali burning inalmost 4000 acres of farmland. The use of agro-waste pellets for power generation at Dadri station is helping farmers financially and also in reducing the carbon footprint of power generation. The irony is that all the coal units at Dadri are under shutdown and the opportunityfor generation of green power from parali / agro-pellets islost.
