Bilaspur6 minutes ago
There are three rakhad dams in NTPC Sipat area and the ash is reaching the kitchens of the villagers.
NTPC, established just 15 km from Bilaspur, is lighting many states of the country by providing electricity, but the affected villages are facing the brunt of ash. Villagers’ land was taken for setting up the plant, promises and claims were made to provide them jobs and basic facilities, but they have completely failed. Everything is blurry in these villages covered with dust and ash. Recently, the team of NGT i.e. National Green Tribunal, which came to inspect the plant, has also raised questions on this. read Daily newspaper Ground report of…
Recently, when the NTPC team came, it was named Routine Inspection. The team had visited Sipat NTPC and its associated villages during this period. After this Dainik Bhaskar’s team also reached the Rakhar Dam and its affected villages. NTPC has built three rakhad dams in and around village Raliya, Rank. All three dams are covered with ash and are overflowing. The villagers are suffering the consequences of this. Only heavy vehicles carrying ash fly here. Even if a slight wind blows, the ashes from the dam fly to the house and kitchen of the villagers.
The ashes have made life difficult for the nearby villagers.
The view in the air of five minutes
Dainik Bhaskar’s team had reached village Sukharipali, then strong wind started blowing. Soon the village and the surrounding area were filled with a cloud of ashes. The vehicles coming from the front also got lost in this dust. Trees and plants were not even visible. By the time the wind subsided, the ashes had reached the mouths of the people. Looking at the clothes and the face, it seemed that we were coming from some factory.
The surrounding area is thus blurred by the ash.
Villagers throw food when the storms blow
Chhaya Sonwani of village Sukharipali tells that the way the wind is blowing right now, this situation happens every day. In summer our food gets ash. In such a situation, either the food has to be thrown away or it is fed to the animals. Ash is always flying from the dam, as there is a movement of heavy vehicles to pick it up from here. Due to the ashes, it has become difficult for the villagers to live, eat and drink water.
Only ashes can be seen on trees and plants and on roads.
20 villages affected by the ashes
There are more than 20 villages including Rakhad, Raliya and Sukharipali as well as Kaudiya, Eramshahi, Navagaon, Mudpar, Hardadih, Gataura affected by Rakhar Dam. The people of these villages are forced to lead a hellish life due to Rakhar Dam. When a storm blows, it becomes difficult to see in a distance of just ten feet due to the ash flying in the surrounding village.
Disease caused by ash and damage to crops
Bihari Sidar told that due to ash, there is a lot of damage to the body. Dust gets into the eye. When we eat food, then ashes come in it. The outside air is not fit to breathe. Ash dust comes out when you wash your nose and mouth. Due to this, diseases like respiratory problems, asthma, asthma, allergies are increasing.
Layers of ash get accumulated in clothes along with hands and faces even while riding a bike.
having trouble breathing
Santosh Kumar Patel told that the villagers are facing many kinds of diseases due to the ash. Most of the villagers of the area are suffering from asthma, cough, cold besides breathing problem. There are also complaints of chest pain. He told that due to the connivance of the local public representatives and the NTPC management, the villagers are not getting any facilities.
Promised to provide facilities, but now the reverse is happening
Villagers told that when the NTPC plant was being set up, the officers had shown the dream of development of the village. Promised to arrange hospital with electricity, water, drain as well as all basic facilities. Now after the installation of the plant, the ash dam has been made, due to which the problems of the villagers have increased. The development of the village, the villagers are not even getting clean water to drink.
The ash like the sea is visible far and wide in the Rakhd dam.
It is not in our bus to stop the storm
NTPC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Neha Khatri says that in the Rakhar Dam affected villages, security measures are taken by the management. So that the ash does not fly away, it is beaten with a layer of soil. Along with this, water is sprinkled in the dam by installing sprinklers. It is natural for the ash to fly when there is a storm in the summer season, it is not in anyone’s power to stop it.