AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court has issued notices to 11 thermal and lignite-based power stations in the state seeking to know what measures had been taken by the units for the health of their employees.
The high court issued the notices after the Supreme Court last month transferred to the concerned high courts a petition seeking healthcare for workers of power stations.
The Gujarat high court also issued notices to the chief secretary, Gujarat and other concerned departments of the state government.
Earlier, acting on the petition of an NGO, the Occupational Health and Safety Association, the Supreme Court had directed the concerned high courts to find out whether there was adequate and effective healthcare system in place at the power stations and whether there was any evaluation of occupational health status of the workers. The apex court had also directed the high court to find out whether or not effective medical treatment was available for workers of the power units.
Transferring the matter to the high courts, the Supreme Court bench of Justice K S Radhakrishnan and Justice A K Sikri had said that 130 coal-fired thermal power plants (CFTPPs) are spread across the country. Hence, it would not be practical for the court to examine whether each of them was adhering to safety standards and rules for its workers, the SC had stated.
The apex court then directed the high courts of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi/NCT Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Assam to “initiate suo motu proceedings in the larger interest of the workers working in CFTPPs.”
The petitioner organization had submitted a report which revealed that half the workers working in CFTPPs have lung function abnormalities, skin diseases and asthma among others.
Coal-Based Plants /
Power Plant District Capacity (megawatt)
Ukai Tapi 1350
Pethapur Gandhinagar 870
Sikka Jamnagar 240
Wanakbori, Kheda 1470
Torrent Power Sabarmati 400
Essar Power Salaya, Jamnagar 1200
Adani Power Mundra, Kutch 4620
Tata Power Mundra, Kutch 4000
Lignite-Based Power Units:
Power Plant District Capacity (megawatt)
Panandhro Power Station, Lakhpat, Kutch 290
GPCL Mangrol, Surat 500
GMDC Power LakhpatKutch
Courtesy: The Times of India
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