Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies have emerged as an indispensable tool in contemporary governance, particularly in the context of developmental projects. This trend is notably pronounced in the case of coal-fired thermal plants situated at coal pitheads. As governments seek to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability, the scrutiny of such projects through EIA studies has become more rigorous. The environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants extend across various dimensions, encompassing air, water, and soil pollution, as well as biodiversity loss and climate change. Primarily, the combustion of coal in these plants releases a plethora of pollutants into the atmosphere, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the disposal of coal ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, poses significant challenges, as it contains heavy metals and other toxic substances that can leach into groundwater and soil, contaminating water bodies and agricultural lands. Furthermore, the extraction of coal from pitheads often involves deforestation, habitat destruction, and disruption of local ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and ecological imbalance. Consequently, the cumulative environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants underscore the imperative of conducting comprehensive EIA studies to evaluate the potential risks and devise mitigation measures, ensuring sustainable development while safeguarding environmental integrity.
Tag: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Decoding the Question:
- In intro try to, define the concept of EIA and legal backing in India
- In Body,
- Discuss first part as impact of coal-fired thermal power plant located at pithead.
- Try to conclude with suggestions with respect to environmental conservation.
Answer:
EIA or environmental impact assessments are a requirement under law in many instances, hence, they have become quite common. The location of coal-fired thermal plants is subject to guidelines by the Central Electricity Authority and the Ministry of Environment and Forest.
Legal provisions backing Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) in India:
- Until 1994, environmental clearance from the Central Government was an administrative decision and lacked legislative support. EIA was made mandatory in 1994, under the Environmental Protection Act of 1986 which contains various provisions on EIA methodology and process.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified new EIA legislation in September 2006. The notification makes it mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal power plants, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and airports) and industries including very small electroplating or foundry units to get environment clearance. However, unlike the EIA Notification of 1994, the new legislation has put the onus of clearing projects on the state government depending on the size/capacity of the project.
Environmental impact of Coal powered thermal plants at the Pithead:
- Air Pollution: It includes sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter (PM), and heavy metals, leading to smog, acid rain, toxins in the environment. For pithead thermal power plants located in deep remote forested areas, it disrupts entire biodiversity, causing respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular effects in animal and human beings.
- Ash in air gets deposited on nearby agriculture fields which again become problems for the natural process of photosynthesis. Due to deposition of ash on crops it may enter into food chains of humans as well.
- Pollution in surface water resources. Water slurry from coal fired thermal power plants may be transported to ash ponds for disposal. It also contains harmful metals such as boron, lead arsenic etc. which can be very dangerous for local populations with respect to public health.
- Impact on soil can be seen as soil in nearby areas of coal pithead become alkaline due to the alkaline nature of ash. This will have a negative impact on agricultural land as they are very harmful to crop production. Even this may lead to bioaccumulation of heavy metals pollution.
- Coal combustion waste disposed of in landfills or “surface impoundments,” are another concern. As rain filters through the toxic ash pits year after year, the toxic metals are leached out into the local environment.
- Acid mine drainage (AMD): Which refers to the outflow of acidic water from coal mines or metal mines, often abandoned mines where ore- or coal mining activities have exposed rocks containing the sulfur-bearing mineral pyrite. Pyrite reacts with air and water to form sulphuric acid and dissolved iron, and as water washes through mines, this compound forms a dilute acid, which can wash into nearby rivers and streams, making them acidic adversely impacting river ecology.
While India is planning to shift to more and more environmentally friendly clean sources of energy, presently coal-fired power plants continue to be India’s main source for electricity generation. In such a situation, Environment Impact assessment comes as a handy preventive tool evaluating and mitigating environmental impact of such proposed coal fired power plants. Such assessment aims at solving many of these problems in the planning phase itself.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
