The Times of India 19.08.2010
Civic body going by expert opinion on power plant: Joshi
NAGPUR: After city MP Vilas Muttemwar`s opposition to NMC`s proposed power plant, Union minister of state for environment Jairam Ramesh too has spoken out against it. Ramesh has in a letter to the CM expressed his displeasure on the issue.
However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation`s standing committee chairman Sandeep Joshi justified the civic body`s decision to set up the plant in Bhandewadi, on the outskirts of the city, saying that it would not be as harmful as was being feared.
Joshi said that the direction of wind is away from the city for 85% of the time on any day, which means that the emissions of the plant will be carried away from the city because of the winds and citizens will not have to face pollution.
Joshi said, “The civic body had commissioned a study by technical consultants Feedback Ventures Ltd in March, April and May. The experts checked the direction of wind at different times of the day at Bhandewadi to reach these conclusions.”
NMC is the first civic body across the country to think of setting up a power project. “We do not deny that thermal power plants cause pollution, but the direction of the wind will ensure that the adverse effects on the city will be minimal,” Joshi said.
