The afforestation activities of the industrial region not only serve as foreground and background landscape features but also contribute to the overall improvement in the environment.

The crucial need for conservation and restoration of the degraded ecosystem and preservation of genetic resources of the country led to the enactment of the "Wild Life Protection Act" (1974) and "Forest Act" (1980) in addition to legal Acts of Air, Water and Environment.

Maintenance of ecological balance and pristine environment therefore, has been of utmost importance at NTPC. Environment planning and preservation is an integral part of its project activities. NTPC undertakes afforestation programmes covering vast tracts of land in and around its projects in a concerted bid to counter growing ecological threat.

NTPC'S APPROACH

It has been possible to achieve a satisfactory combination of environmental quality and techno-economics through determined efforts at NTPC for its projects. Continuous vigilance is maintained to minimise pollution apart from other management programmes taking root simultaneously with construction activities.

The appropriate afforestation programme for plant, township, green-belt and other sites are designed according to the geographical features. The species are selected on the basis of their adaptability and grouped with local representatives. The growth characteristics, flowering pattern and canopy (spreading nature) are evaluated in their distribution over these sites of afforestation. These considerations not only contribute to the aesthetics but also go a long way in serving as "Sinks" for the pollutant emissions of the power plant.. At times, they combat pollution from other industries in the surrounding area.

Saving the existing trees, planting right at the beginning of construction phase, preservation of trees and advice from State Forest Departments and Agriculture Universities are a few general guidelines followed by NTPC in the afforestation programmes at their projects. The site specific afforestation details conform to the natural climatic conditions and adaptability of species. The species are grouped into a heterogeneous combination to impart a natural and healthy assemblage.

The arrangement of species in the green belt / buffer zone conforms to hexagonal pattern to facilitate maximum density of species. In addition, the growth pattern and canopy are evaluated in their actual locations of the hexagonal pattern which help uniform canopy spreading. The tree planting, garden and park development in and around the township adds to the general aesthetics. Plant species of medicinal value are cultivated separately in isolated patch and information made available to residents for use appropriately.

The nursery ensures good quality planting stock so vital in the success of planting programmes. In order to reduce the transport cost and damage to the planting stock, nurseries have been developed at the projects to meet the planting requirement.

NTPC has developed independent Horticulture Department at its projects headed by experienced horticulture officers / supervisors.

FOREST BANK

An innovative proposal to create "Forest Banks" in each state was wherein the Forest Department of all States / Union Territories should identify land to initiate plantations under various programmes of the state. Such areas would facilitate any power project of either the State or Centre to draw necessary "Compensatory Afforestation Area" against the existing balance in the Forest Bank. This will ensure that projects need not wait for clearance for want of identification of areas and State Government's concurrence for compensatory afforestation.

ASH MOUND RECLAMATION

The inherent limitations of wet disposal system pertained firstly, to the land requirement which was estimated at one acre of land per MW of power for the life of plant; secondly, the huge quantity of water for the slurry and finally, the pipe-line to transport the slurry to ash pond located at varying distances between 7-10 kms.

Dry ash disposal system has been in operation, for the first time in India, at the National Capital Power Station (NCPS) located 10 km off Dadri Grand Trunk road and about 50 km from Delhi. Around 80-85% of the project area is alkaline with a pH range between 8.5 and 10.3. The water table is high and most of the area is low lying. The climate is typical with summer temperature reaching about 460 C. The dry ash disposal system results in an "ash mound" which, is estimated to reach a height of about 55 m, ultimately. The dry disposal system in comparison saves on land and water. Unlike the wet disposal system, the pipeline is replaced with the conveyor system ( rail / truck ).

Although experimental trials and commercial reclamation activities over the abandoned ash pond areas have been successfully completed in a few projects at NTPC, the reclamation of "ash mound" is still a challenging task unlike ash ponds, under the prevailing climatic conditions, mentioned above. An attempt however, has been made to reclaim the completed portions of the "ash mound" initially, with grass species. In addition, a few tree species like Eucalyptus globulus, Pongamia glabra, Leucaena leucocephala, Cassia siamea, Parkinsonia aculeata, Prosopis juliflora, Callistemon lanceolatus have been successfully cultivated.

ADVANTAGES OF RECLAMATION

Reclamation of ash ponds have innumerable advantages such as prevention of fugitive dust from ash ponds, checking water erosion, stabilising the surface areas of ash, preventing the potential ground water contamination and adding vegetation cover so vital, in the long term.