Modeling of environmental impact assessment of Kolaghat thermal power plant area, West Bengal, using remote sensing and GIS techniques

Abstract

The Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant is a major Thermal Power Plant in West Bengal, India. It is located at Mecheda (approx.) and 55 km from Kolkata. It is situated on the right site of the Rup Narayan River bank which is under the district of Purba Medinipur, west Bengal. The Power Plant is operated by West Bengal Power Development Corporation. The Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant (KTPP) was established during India’s sixth plan period (1980–1985). When the plant first become operational KTPP had only one 210 MW unit. The plant’s first expansion. Took place in 1985 when an additional five 210 MW units were added in two stages. Currently the plant has a total of six units with a capacity of 1260 MW. The KTPP covers about 900 acres of land out of which 871.89 acres lie in the Panskura-II block and the rest in the Sahid Matangini block, Talmuk. Although the plant has a number of befits, the lack of treatment of the fly ash generated from this plant has been detrimental to the productivity and quality of crop of the surrounding area is also responsible for some changes in land use pattern. Studies were made to assess the impact of a Thermal Power Plant located at Kolaghat on vegetation and soil in surrounding areas. Pollutant concentration in the area gradually decreases along a belt in the prevailing wind direction and a gradient of structure and functional change in plant and soil was observed. The evaluation of the maximum concentration of air pollutes such as SO2, NOx, and suspended particular matter is usually considered of primary important for environmental impact assessment. The effect of the power plant emission on water, soil, and eco-physiological characteristics such as pH, DO, water conductivity, organic matter concentration in soil; Leaf injury symptoms, number and distribution of plant species; chlorophyll content in leaves, percentage of photosynthesis activities leaf area; accumulation in algae etc. seemed to be a functional of the pollutant gradient existing in the area. There was a relationship between plant response and change in the chemical factor of water, soil and plants due to pollution of thermal power plant. This study indicates possible elimination some medicinal plant species, first the trees then the shrubs and lastly the herbs and grasses from the environs of thermal power plant. The increase in soil acidity in the area may cause cat ion-anion exchange imbalance and reduction microbe population to affect soil fertility.