Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has ordered the TS pollution control board (TSPCB) to conduct a fresh inspection of the Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS) and submit a report within three weeks about the effluents released by it.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, issued the directions in a PIL filed by one Dasari Ramesh and another from Bhadradri Kothagudem district. The PIL seeks to address the alleged non-compliance by KTPS of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
The petitioners complained that the KTPS unit was discharging abnormal sewage and trade effluents, such as ash, into the Karkavagu stream and Kinnerasani river and contaminating them. It has caused significant damage to property and life, including cattle, they said.
Previously, upon the High Court's directions, the PCB had submitted a report on July 12, 2022. The report pointed out that during an inspection, the sedimentation tank at KTPS was not operational, leading to the direct discharge of ash-mixed water into Karkavagu through a temporary gate. KTPS officials replied to that by stating it was an emergency measure to handle wastewater during the rainy season. However, this report was not supported by an affidavit, prompting further judicial scrutiny. Given these circumstances, the division bench has mandated another inspection to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
The fresh report must comprehensively address the issues raised and be duly supported by an affidavit to validate its findings, the court said.
