Worker from NTPC Thermal Plant in Chhattisgarh

Ram Prasad Rawat, daily wage worker at NTPC. According to Ram Prasad, none of his family members have any heath issues, their only concern is fly ash which they encounter in their daily life.
‘Fly-ash’ refers to fine particles of ash sent up by the burning of solid fuel-like coal. Typically, this is the residue of ash generated by thermal power companies. Due to its toxic nature, the government has mandated that fly-ash must be dumped in ash ponds, which are specially made on vacant lands.

However, this mandate is not strictly observed and casual dumping has resulted in the poisoning of air, water and land in areas close to the power plants. This has also had a negative impact on the health of people living in those areas. Illnesses like heart disease, lung cancer, both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma are increasing.

Sipat, Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh, India, 2017.