The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC)
has ordered the Pollution Control Board to test groundwater below ash
ponds of the thermal power house of the PSEB here to see whether it
contained uranium or not.
In its order,
dated January 14, the PSHRC has told the PSEB to take steps to reduce
the uranium content within prescribed limits, in case it was found
beyond the permissible limit. Taking cognizance of reports published
in The Tribune regarding air pollution being caused in Bathinda due to
fly ash emanating from the coal-based thermal plant and also high
quantity of uranium in the groundwater, the PSHRC had earlier issued
notices to the Punjab government, PSEB and Pollution Control Board.
PSHRC chairperson Justice RS Mongia and other
members have ordered that tests may be done at some other thermal
plant to verify whether the ash pond here was causing presence of
uranium in the ground water. The PSHRC suggested another test of
groundwater from some place away from the ash pond to compare the
uranium content.
Chief engineer of the thermal plant Kamaljit
Singh informed the commission that modernisation of Unit number III
has been started and the work would be completed in nine months.
