GNDTP Bathinda power station

Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) is a proposed renovation of the plant in Punjab, India.

Location
This map shows the location of the now shutdown plant.

Background
The plant consists of four 110 MW units. The first unit was operational on November 19, 1969 followed by the three additional units over the next decade. The plant was planned to be operational for 25 years, and has been operational for over 35 years. "Restoration and modernization" on have been completed on units 1 and 2 before 2006. Units 3 and 4 were scheduled for restoration on November 14, 2006, but due to "non-availability of certain critical components", the renovation of unit 3 was rescheduled to be finished by October 15, 2010 and unit 4 for September 15, 2011. The goal of restoration and modernization according to the Punjab State Power Corporation (formerly known as PSEB) is to restore or increase capacity of units (units 1 & 2 to remain 110 MW, 3 & 4 to increase to 120 MW each), to allow the plants to run safely and efficiently for another 20 years, and to adhere to environmental standards of the Pollution Control Board.

Opposition to Plant
Residents of Bathinda have been fighting the plant for the past decade because of the large amount of ash and other pollution it emits. Residents created a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to fight coal ash pollution created by the plant. M M Behal, convener of the JAC of Bathinda, said, "It seems the state government is not serious about pollution caused by the thermal plants in Bathinda... Earlier we were facing the problem of high level of fly ash and coal smoke, but after National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning found traces of radioactive thorium and uranium in the fly ash lying at a thermal plant in Maharashtra, out worries have increased manifold. We are planning to approach the high court once again," said Behal. Bathinda residents contacted the Human Rights Commission to ask for protection from the pollution. In addition, the JAC filed a petition in Punjab and Haryana high court. These efforts resulted in a ruling that forced the Bathinda plant to modernize three of the four units by June 30, 2011. However, Behal said the work has not been completed as of August 2011.

Coal Ash Report
In 2011 the Bhaba Atomic Research Center released a study that reported a high uranium concentration in Bathinda and its peripheral area near two coal-fired power plants. The report noted that high levels of uranium was found in the groundwater supply. The study also noted stated that: "Ashes produced in thermal power plants may contain high levels of natural radioactivity and constitute a potential health hazard to the power plant personnel, and to the population living in the vicinity, due to fly-ash releases, fly-ash depositions and fly-ash industrial utilization."

Plant Shutdown
On August 22, 2011, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal announced plans to shut down the Bathinda power plant. The Tribune reports "The thermal plant set up 37 years ago is to be dismantled as it has outlived its utility." Despite some renovations, the plant will be completely dismantled. "The thermal plant has been running without electrostatic precipitators that arrest the flow of ash from the chimneys, resulting in a thick layer of ash in houses." MM Behal said the Punjab government failed to meet its commitment of taking steps towards controlling air pollution by June 2010. A local eye specialist and medical doctor have stated that ailments related to pollution, such as eye diseases and respiratory illnesses among children, have increased.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh has publicly stated his opposition to the Bathinda plant closure. He states that the state of Punjab is already experiencing a shortage of electricity, and to close another plant will create an even larger shortage. He wants the Bathinda plant to make the necessary restorations and reopen.

Project Details
Sponsor: Punjab State Power Corporation Location: Bathinda, Punjab, India Coordinates: (of previous plant location) 30.2335, 74.9247 Status: Nameplate capacity: 4 X 110 MW Type: Projected in service: Cancelled Coal Source: Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand Estimated annual CO2: Source of financing:

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