Residents in Madhupur village, Patuakhali district, Bangladesh, are experiencing adverse effects attributed to the Payra Power Plant, which began operations in 2020. Farmers report ash layers on crops, leading to reduced production. Villagers also describe itching problems after bathing in ponds and eyesight issues, which they link to the plant’s emissions.
One farmer lost nearly 1 hectare of land to the plant and an additional hectare became waterlogged due to an “ill-planned drainage system” that holds stagnant discharge water from the power station. A recent study has connected local suffering related to air quality and fly ash to the power plant’s alleged failure to maintain environmental guidelines.
Source: Mongabay