MoU signed between CPCB and NTPC 3 UTs and 6 States to get air quality monitoring stations

State-operated power giant National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with CPCB on 26th February 2020. The MoU was signed to offer financial support for the commissioning and installing of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS). The info gathered from these stations will be used as inputs for Air Quality Index evaluation for the particular cities. General Manager (Corporate Environment Management), NTPC and Member Secretary, CPCB, signed the MoU.

Salient features of the MoU

i. NTPC will offer financial support of Rs 80 crore for installing 25 CAAQMS across six states and 3 UTs.

ii. 3 UTs: CAAQMS will be installed in Dadra & Nagar Haveli (Silvassa), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Port Blair) and Daman & Diu (Daman).

iii. 6 States: CAAQMS will also be installed in Ranchi (Jharkhand), Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad and Kanpur (all in Uttar Pradesh), Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and Pimpri, Chinchwad (Maharashtra), Patna (Bihar).

iv. NTPC has also implemented technology to convert Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into high Gross Calorific Value (GCV) fuel that can be co-fired in traditional boilers at its Dadri Plant in Delhi NCR. NTPC has commissioned its first FGD unit at Vindhyachal, implementing eco-friendly technology across its power plants.

About CAAQMS

• CAAQMS will serve as the 'control station,' i.e., analysing air quality in an ideal situation. Also, its readings will be evaluated as a quality benchmark.
• It observes the different pollutant analysers and their calibrations units.
• The device has Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and a backup facility.
• The monitoring station includes analysers, calibration systems, meteorological instrumentation, sampling lines, sensors and display systems.
• The control station costs around Rs 90 lakh, and its maintenance cost is around Rs 10 lakh annually.

About Central Pollution Control Board:

CPCB operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). CPCB intends to regulate the cleanliness of the wells and streams and enhance India's air quality.

About NTPC:

NTPC is an acronym for known as National Thermal Power Corporation. The Indian central Public Sector serves from its headquarters in New Delhi.