In a significant relief to residents of the town who were facing acute air pollution caused by Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Power Plant (GNDTP), the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) today ordered that its Unit IV be shut down.
The PPCB also ordered the plant authorities to begin ammonia dousing in the other three units to further check emissions and control the level of pollution.
The order to shut down Unit IV within 40 days was taken after an inspection of the plant by PPCB Chairman KS Pannu this morning. Pannu held a meeting with senior officers of the plant and conveyed his displeasure over the failure of the authorities to adhere to the PPCB time-table for reducing pollution levels. He said that although Units I and II had been renovated, their pollution levels remained marginally above the prescribed limits.
Pannu was told that the PPCB officials had checked the pollution level of the plant in May and June and found that the level of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the renovated Unit II was 175 mg/Nm3 against the prescribed limit of 150 mg/Nm3.
Read More:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110928/punjab.htm
