Lignite-based power plant in Bhavnagar dumping effluents, 'polluting' groundwater

By A Representative
The Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL), the state-owned electricity generation company, is in the eye of storm in the rural areas of Bhavnagar district for allegedly polluting groundwater sources. Running lignite-based power plant in Padva village of Ghogha taluka of the district, GSECL took over the plant from another state-run Bhavnagar Energy Company Ltd about 18 months ago.
Top Ahmedabad-based environmental NGO Paryavaran Mitra, in a letter to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, has said that despite frequent representations by senior village activist Ghanshyamsinh Jadeja based on Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) water samples of groundwater pollution, "nothing is being done to change things."
The letter, signed by Mahesh Pandya, director, Paryavaran Mitra, said that the GPCB samples taken on January 24 and 29 show that water in the open village well had total dissolved solid (TDS) to the tune of 2,833 mg/litre, while the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 30 mg/litre, which was “much higher than the norm.”
Another GPCB sample, taken from the checkdam situated within the premises of the lignite plant, had TDS to the tune of 3,140 mg/litre, COD 489 mg/litre, and biological oxygen demand (BOD) 61mg/litre. The letter said, "This shows that the GSECL is actually dumping effluents into the checkdam, which is a criminal offence. Clearly, the effluents seep in and pollute groundwater of the nearby rural areas."
The third GPCB sample, taken from the open effluent channel, which again is situated with the plant premises, shows that the TDS was 2068 mg/litre, COD 837 mg/litre, and BOD 107 mg/litre. "This suggests, untreated effluent is dumped straight into the checkdam", the letter said.
Pointing out that groundwater pollution resulting from the plant is harming agricultural crops, and the drinking water is no more potable, the letter demanded immediate steps to "purify" and "treat" the effluents before sending them to the checkdam. It also demanded restoration of the pond, which existed till 2012.
The pond was filled up, and instead the checkdam came up, which became handy to dump effluents from the plant – an action which has been declared illegal by the Gujarat High Court, the letter said, insisting, “Criminal complaint should be filed against officials responsible for such negligence.”

Comments

Countrywide protest by gig workers puts spotlight on algorithmic exploitation

By A Representative A nationwide protest led largely by women gig and platform workers was held across several states on February 3, with the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) claiming the mobilisation as a success and a strong assertion of workers’ rights against what it described as widespread exploitation by digital platform companies. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states, covering major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with multiple districts across the country.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

'Gandhi Talks': Cinema that dares to be quiet, where music, image and silence speak

By Vikas Meshram In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

The Epstein shock, global power games and India’s foreign policy dilemma

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The “Epstein” tsunami has jolted establishments everywhere. Politicians, bureaucrats, billionaires, celebrities, intellectuals, academics, religious gurus, and preachers—all appear to be under scrutiny, even dismantled. At first glance, it may seem like a story cutting across left, right, centre, Democrats, Republicans, socialists, capitalists—every label one can think of. Much of it, of course, is gossip, as people seek solace in the possible inclusion of names they personally dislike.

Paper guarantees, real hardship: How budget 2026–27 abandons rural India

By Vikas Meshram In the history of Indian democracy, the Union government’s annual budget has always carried great significance. However, the 2026–27 budget raises several alarming concerns for rural India. In particular, the vague provisions of the VBG–Ram Ji scheme and major changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) have put the future of rural workers at risk. A deeper reading of the budget reveals that these changes are not merely administrative but are closely tied to political and economic priorities that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of rural households.

Michael Parenti: Scholar known for critiques of capitalism and U.S. foreign policy

By Harsh Thakor* Michael Parenti, an American political scientist, historian, and author known for his Marxist and anti-imperialist perspectives, died on January 24 at the age of 92. Over several decades, Parenti wrote and lectured extensively on issues of capitalism, imperialism, democracy, media, and U.S. foreign policy. His work consistently challenged dominant political and economic narratives, particularly those associated with Western liberal democracies and global capitalism.

Gujarat No 1 in Govt of India pushed report? Not in labour, infrastructure, economy

By Rajiv Shah A report by a top Delhi-based think tank, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), prepared under the direct leadership of Amitabh Kant, ex-secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India, has claims that Gujarat ranks No 1 in the NCAER State Investment Potential Index (N-SIPI), though there is a dig. N-SIPI has been divided into two separate indices. The first one includes five “pillars” based on which the index has been arrived it. These pillars are: labour, infrastructure, economic conditions, political stability and governance, and perceptions of a good business climate. It is called N-SIPI 21, as it includes a survey of 21 states out of 29.

Search This Blog