L-G wants plan for Badarpur plant after closure.

Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal recently tasked the authorities concerned with preparing a roadmap on utilising the premises of the Badarpur coal-fired power plant in south-east Delhi after it shuts down next year.

According to a senior government official, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Land & Development Office (L&DO) have been asked to soon come up with a comprehensive plan for the utilisation of the 1000-acre plant which is set to shut operations by July next year.

The meeting, held at Raj Niwas to ascertain future options, also explored measures to manage the flyash apart from the utilisation of the complex which also consists of housing units and two schools – one private and one government operated. The plant was being operated by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

As far as the former was concerned, the official said, the growing of special plants (Ipomoea) to prevent the flyash from becoming airborne and using it as a raw material in brick kilns and in construction of a highway - which has been accomplished by the NTPC at a similar facility in Dadri located in Uttar Pradesh – has been discussed.

Identified as a major source of air pollution, the thermal plant will close by July 2018 as per directions from the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA).

“The housing colonies, so far occupied by NTPC staff and their families, are in a good shape; there are also two schools – a Kendriya Vidyalaya and a private school, there. The land owning agencies concerned have been asked to come up with concrete proposals about the utilisation of the entire complex after current occupants composed of NTPC officials move out,” the official said.

THE HINDU