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Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Thermal power plants in Orissa are responsible for around 67 per cent emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), posing a serious threat to the environment in the state.
The topic of thermal plants significantly damaging the environment was discussed threadbare here on the third day of the Orissa Environment Congress 2014 at Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) Wednesday.
Nearly 11,000 mw electricity is being generated by thermal plants in Orissa. Experts laid emphasis on acquiring new technology to mitigate the quantum of pollution caused by thermal plants.
Experts say that burning coal in a power plant produces a number of pollutants — some of them are specific to the type of fuel or is part of the combustion process. Carbon dioxide (CO2) has turned to be the major greenhouse gas. A fossil fuel power plant is the major contributor of CO2.
Orissa state pollution control board (OSPCB) senior scientist DK Behera said that several steps can be taken by the government to minimise damage to the environment.
“The efficiency of the power plant’s boilers should be enhanced to reduce coal consumption. Switching over from fossil-based energy sources to renewable sources like wind, solar or hydro power is another solution,” Behera suggested, adding that power transmission and distribution losses should be reduced. Former chief secretary Sudhansu Mishra said that though the state had prepared its climate change action plan policy in 2010, it was yet to be implemented by the government.
