PMK youth wing leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Anbumani Ramadoss, on Thursday expressed shock over a report that people in Tamil Nadu are suffering high levels of pollution because of the toxic gases emitted by thermal power plants.
In a statement, he condemned the thermal plants for not following norms to retrofit all coal-based plants with the Flue Gas Desulfuriser and said posing risks to human lives was not acceptable.
Thermal plants in TN emit high levels of noxious gas: study
Mr. Anbumani said the State government should explore options of shifting to alternative sources like wind and solar energy, and revise its energy-producing policy.
Except for the thermal plants under construction, the State government should announce that no new thermal power projects would be implemented, he urged. Instead, the government should pursue a shift towards hybrid generation of wind and solar power and also take measures to convert coal-based plants to gas- based plants, Mr. Anbumani suggested.
He also urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately ensure all coal-based plants are retrofitted with the Flue Gas Desulfuriser.
