Jhansi: In an unusual form of protest, members of the Bundelkhand Nirman Morcha on Thursday played a cricket match on a massive fly-ash island that has reportedly emerged in the middle of the Betwa River near the Paricha Thermal Power Plant, drawing attention to what they describe as years of environmental degradation caused by the disposal of industrial ash into the river.The activists alleged that the state-run Paricha Thermal Power Plant, which generates electricity using coal, has been releasing fly ash and other industrial waste into the Betwa River for a prolonged period, leading to the accumulation of ash deposits and posing a serious threat to the region’s ecology.According to the Morcha, three large ash islands have formed in the river, each measuring around 180 feet by 230 feet and rising nearly four feet above the water level. The depth of the deposits remains unknown.The Betwa River is regarded as the lifeline of drought-prone Bundelkhand, serving as a major source of drinking water and irrigation.Bundelkhand Nirman Morcha president Bhanu Sahay said the symbolic cricket match was organised to draw the attention of govt authorities and the public towards the deteriorating condition of the river and the Paricha Dam.He claimed that it could be the first instance in the country where a cricket match has been played on an ash island formed within the main channel of a river.The organisation further alleged that fly ash emitted from the plant’s chimneys has been affecting nearby villages, with residents facing potential health risks due to continuous exposure to airborne ash particles.The Morcha announced that it is preparing to move the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking intervention to address the alleged environmental violations and protect the Betwa River and Paricha Dam.Responding to the allegations, chief general manager of Paricha Thermal Power Plant, RN Srivastava, said that disposal of ash into the river is not a routine practice and is undertaken only in exceptional circumstances when both ash storage tanks reach full capacity.He added that a significant portion of the plant’s fly ash is utilized by cement manufacturers, brick-making units and infrastructure agencies, including NHAI.Srivastava further said that corrective measures are being implemented to minimise the possibility of ash disposal into the river in the future.
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