Title: Perception of pollution and expectation from NTPC's Talcher Super Thermal Power Plant

Authors: Arun Sahay

Addresses: Management Development Institute, Gurgaon – 122001, India

Abstract: The National Thermal Power Corporation|s (NTPC) Talcher Super Thermal Power Plant (TSTPP) is situated near Talcher in the district of Angul in Orissa and is the biggest power-generating station in India, with an installed capacity of 3000 MW. The local population considers it both a boon and a bane: a boon because of area development and a bane because of pollution. A case-based exploratory research was carried out among the population living around TSTPP to assess their perception of the plant|s environmental management and its impact on area development in general and on the health of the employees and the residents (living in the surrounding area) in particular. The survey also tried to assess whether the local population would like to have such plants in future in their area of habitation. The study revealed that there is no significant adverse impact on the ecology due to the project activities on account of the preventive actions taken and continuous monitoring by the power plant. There is all-around development of the area but local residents feel that more needs to be done. Beyond pollution control, the people have expectations of jobs, free electricity supply and availability of drinking water.

Keywords: thermal power plants; environmental impact; pollutants; health; India; regional development; environmental pollution; local perceptions; environmental management; industrial ecology; local expectations.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2008.023415

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2008 Vol.5 No.5/6, pp.536 - 554

Published online: 22 Feb 2009 *

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