Parliamentary Committee mulls immediate plan on ash disposal from Norochcholai

Colombo, March 31 (Daily Mirror) - In the wake of controversy over substandard coal imports to Sri Lanka, a parliamentary Committee has instructed officials to immediately prepare a plan for the environmentally friendly disposal of ash emitted from the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant.

It was revealed at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, which met in parliament complex recently, that the volume of ash emitted during electricity generation has increased significantly due to issues related to the quality of coal imported to Sri Lanka for power generation.

The Committee, under the chairmanship of Parliamentarian Hector Appuhamy, stated that if this ash is not properly disposed of, there is a risk of future environmental damage, and the officials were directed to formulate a plan under the leadership of the District Secretary of the Puttalam District to take the necessary measures.

It was also proposed that the possibility of reusing the removed ash for production purposes be studied, and that any revenue generated from such products be utilised for welfare projects benefiting the communities affected by the power plant.

The Committee also instructed the Central Environmental Authority to submit a comprehensive report on whether water and air pollution have occurred as a result of the Norochcholai Power Plant, while the North Western Provincial Environmental Authority was also recommended to respond within two weeks regarding the questionnaire and related matters submitted by the Committee in connection with the Norochcholai Power Plant.

Officials of the North Western Provincial Environmental Authority stated that although the volume of ash emitted from the plant has increased, the filtration system in use at the plant is sufficient to absorb these particles.