The inner light
As one of the nation’s leading energy companies, CESC is committed to deliver safe and reliable electric power to our consumers.
We also understand our responsibilities as a corporate citizen: towards the environment, workers, customers, shareholders, general public and the future generations. To us it means, doing business in a responsible way, one that actively takes into account our diverse constituencies those who affect and are affected by our activities.
CESC's Environment Policy states that we believe that our commitment towards the well-being of the living, preservation of the non-living and protection of the environment, in which we operate, is an integral part of our power generation process.
CESC is the first thermal power utility in the world to be registered with UNFCCC for Carbon Credits. In fact, today CESC has to its credit, three registered CDM project which reflects our strong commitment towards reduction of GHG emission. Our focus on energy efficient technologies and adoption of various energy efficiency improvement measures in the Generating Stations resulted in accomplishing this mission.
We have adopted techno-economically viable technologies, devised new processes and modified a few existing ones using our skills and resources to make our communities better places to live and work in.
Effluent Recycling and Conservation
All our pulverized fuel fired power stations have achieved complete recycling of process effluent and ash handling water. Recycling not only stops discharging pollutants in the river Hooghly but also conserves river water, a natural resource. Root Zone System is installed at Titagarh Generating Station wherein sewage made to pass through a bed of Canna plantation is cleaned and then used for gardening.
Emission Control
Coal containing high percentage of ash, when burnt in boilers, produce flue gas, laden with ash particles, which creates environmental pollution if allowed to discharge into the atmosphere. Highly efficient Electrostatic Precipitators ( ESP) have been installed at our PF fired power station and Wet Electrostatic Precipitators at New Cossipore generating Station to remove the ash particles known as fly ash, through precipitation so that the cleaned gas can be released to the atmosphere. Over and above the ESPs, we have implemented, dosing of anhydrous Ammonia in the flue gas in order to increase the collection efficiency of the ESPs. On-line opacity meters are installed for round-the-clock monitoring of emission quality.
A corporate 'Environment Cell' overseeing the activities on environment management system at the Generating Stations, maintains a mobile laboratory for stack gas and ambient air monitoring, which moves between all the power stations to measure and monitor pollutants in emission.
Solid Waste Disposal
Fly ash in dry form is conveyed pneumatically to ash silos from where it is either unloaded in the same form in closed containers or closed barges for utilization in cement making or unloaded, after proper moistening, on dumpers for disposal.
Bottom ash which comes out from the bottom of the boiler is pumped into de-waterning bins in the form of slurry. The water from the slurry is separated by decantation and recycled back for handling of bottom ash. Thus zero discharge system of bottom ash handling water produces no discharging effluent at all.
Noise Control
Intensity of noise is measured at regular intervals and records are maintained. Necessary actions are taken wherever the level at any place approaches the statutory levels.
Tree Plantation
Plantation and green belt development in and around the generating stations for abatement of air pollution, attenuation of noise and serving as a sink for CO2 have always been considered to be a very important aspect of environment management in CESC.
Cleanliness
To keep the power station clean and arouse competitiveness, awards for best house keeping have been introduced.
Utilization of ash
CESC has an Ash Utilization Division for implementation of comprehensive ash management plan on global technology search to tackle ash utilization on short, mid-term and long-term basis.
Presently, major usages are in making of Portland Pozzolana Cement and for land reclamation, structural land filling and road making. Our fly ash have been utilized to construct the road sub-bases of highways and many important roads in and around Kolkata. Rest is being used by local conventional brick fields.
ISO : 14001& OHSAS-18001
ISO 14001, a standard for environmental management systems has been implemented at our Budge Budge, Titagarh and Southern Generating Stations. All the above three power plants are also Occupational Health and Safety Assessment System OHSAS 18001 certified.
Education & Training
To create awareness and sustain the efforts, training programme on Pollution Control and Environmental Monitoring in Thermal Power Stations are being conducted regularly for all levels of employees. World Environment Day is also observed in the Generating Stations and participated by all employees, when environment-friendly tree samplings are planted.
Awards and Accolades
Our efforts towards pollution control have been rewarded over the years by different authorities:-
