Fly ash poses serious health hazards

(Left) Two chimneys of Barapukuria 250MW Power Plant in Dinajpur emit fly ash due to some technical glitches in the plant. (Right) Fly ash gathers on leaves of a tree.Photo: STAR

The public health of around 34 villages around the Barapukuria 250MW Power Plant is becoming hazardous as the plant chimneys are continuously emitting fly ash which is full of coal particles due to some technical glitches.
Sources said the plant started emitting fly ash about three to four months ago, forcing the residents of 34 villages to lead a miserable life.
The plant developed technical glitches at vacuum blower (VB), furnish chamber and electric precipitator (ESP), a device to collect fly ash through anode and cathode method and emit ash.
Dinajpur Public Health Department sources said the ash contains acidic and alkali elements which often cause external and internal injuries of human health. The ash causes skin problems, including itching. Besides, inhaling the ash cause lung problems which finally leads to lung cancer.
Showing her cloths, Minoti Rani, a resident of Sherpur Hindupara, alleged that, “I had hung my washed clothes on a string last night to get them dried by morning. Now, the layer of ash on them is quite visible.”
Besides, the ash which being inhaled by the villagers is now facing skin and respiratory problems, according to the local public health department official as they are getting complaints from the residents.
“My father Noren Chandra Roy is just 63 years old and is facing respiratory problems. Doctors have recommended us to shift to a clean place. We don't have enough money to bear a rented accommodation and other routine expenses. We are forced to inhale this poison,” lamented Dipok Chandra Roy, a day labourer of Ishobpur village.
Uma Kanta Roy, a resident of Sherpur village, said fly ash menace has became a perpetual programme since the last four to five months which often causes him itching. But he informed that fly ash falling on localities depends in the direction in which the wind blows.
“I had washed the veranda just two hours back and I'll have to clean it again as it is hazardous for the children,” said Minu Rani, a resident of the same village.
Many power plant officials, seeking anonymity, told The Daily Star that many officials prefer to keep away their relatives and children as the dusty atmosphere is harmful for their health. Besides, people shared other problems like the falling ash making their food unhygienic.
Plant sources said Sherpur, Uttar Sherpur, Sherpur Hindupara, Ishobpur, Uttar Ramchandrapur, Dudipur, West Dudipur, Hajidanga, Chakkabir and Sherpur Maddyampara which are located close to the thermal plant are the worst hit. Besides, the ash is moving to 200 square kilometre area depending on wind directions.
The plant authorities detected the faults at VB and ESP about four months ago and the erstwhile chief engineer assigned Md Akbar Ali, manager (maintenance) and Mokaram Hossain, executive engineer of Ash Famishment, to fix the trouble.
But they failed to repair its expending Tk 4.5 lakh. Later, they urged authorities to procure new VB and ESP which would cost Tk 10 lakh despite have another new one, sources added.
When contacted, Chief Engineer of the plant Biswanath Halder denied outright any fly ash emissions of his plant, saying that his plant developed technical glitches few months ago, but has been fixed.
But this correspondent found fly ash floating everywhere, including cultivated land, trees, rooftops, verandas and even inside houses of villagers while he was vesting different villages around the power plant on Monday.