Chandrapur’s Pollution Crisis: Five-Year Data Reveals Grim Environmental Toll

thenewsdirt
16 hours ago
7 min read

Vidarbha's Chandrapur district has long struggled with severe environmental degradation, but a comprehensive analysis of data from 2020 to 2025 reveals the extent of the pollution crisis that has gripped this industrial hub in the Vidarbha region. The district, home to massive coal mines, thermal power plants, and cement factories, continues to battle air, water, and soil contamination that has significantly impacted public health and environmental quality.

Recent government assessments show that whilst some improvements have been recorded, Chandrapur remains classified as a Critically Polluted Area with a Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) score that has fluctuated between 76.41 in 2018 and 66.32 in June 2023.

This classification places the district among India's most environmentally compromised regions, with pollution levels that pose serious risks to the 2.2 million residents who call this part of Vidarbha their home.

The district's environmental challenges stem from multiple industrial sources operating simultaneously across its landscape. The Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station, Western Coalfields Limited mining operations, and numerous cement plants have created a complex web of pollution that affects air quality, water resources, and soil conditions throughout the region.

Industrial Giants Driving Environmental Crisis

The Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station stands as the most significant contributor to the district's pollution burden.

Operating since the 1980s, this seven-unit facility with a capacity of 2,920 MW has been identified as the primary source of deteriorating air quality in the region.

A 2022 study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air revealed that the plant's operations in 2020 alone resulted in emissions of 4,724 tonnes of particulate matter, 1,03,010 tonnes of sulphur dioxide, 28,417 tonnes of nitrogen dioxide, and 1,322 kilograms of mercury.

The environmental impact extends far beyond Chandrapur's boundaries. Research indicates that pollution from the thermal power station contributed to 85 premature deaths in Chandrapur, 62 in Nagpur, and affected cities as distant as Mumbai, Pune, and Nanded in 2020. The study documented over 800,000 sick leave days and approximately 1,900 asthma emergency room visits across central India, with more than 800 cases involving children.

Western Coalfields Limited, another major industrial player, operates extensive mining operations throughout the district. The company's mining activities have been repeatedly linked to environmental violations, including the discharge of fly ash into local water bodies. In March 2022, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board fined the company Rs 10 lakh and imposed environmental compensation of Rs 1.15 lakh following large-scale discharge of fly ash into the Irai River.

The cement industry, led by companies like ACC Limited, has also contributed significantly to the pollution crisis.

The ACC plant at Ghugus has faced multiple violations for air and water pollution, with the company being served notices for damage to crops and adverse health impacts on local residents.

The National Green Tribunal has intervened on several occasions, directing the company to address environmental violations and implement corrective measures.

Health Survey Reveals Alarming Public Health Crisis

A comprehensive health survey conducted in 2021 painted a disturbing picture of pollution's impact on Chandrapur's residents. The study, involving 430 respondents, found that 94.2 percent of citizens reported severe health impacts from air pollution.

The survey revealed that 75.1 percent of respondents attributed their health ailments directly to high pollution levels, whilst 60 percent reported irritation from air and noise pollution leading to early exhaustion, sleeplessness, lack of focus, and headaches.

The health implications extend beyond immediate symptoms. Medical practitioners documented high rates of respiratory disorders, with 77 percent of respondents reporting frequent cold, sneezing, and runny noses. The survey also revealed that 67.3 percent of people claimed to suffer from skin diseases and high acidity, whilst 64 percent believed their life span had decreased due to pollution exposure.

Dr Saurabh Rajurkar, a local pulmonologist quoted in the survey, highlighted the increasing number of respiratory disorders and heart ailments among both children and adults. He noted particularly high rates of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases, along with a rising number of heart failure patients.

The study also documented a significant increase in asthma cases among children aged newborn to 12 years, indicating the long-term health consequences of sustained pollution exposure.

Air Quality Monitoring and Water Resources Under Severe Stress

Air quality monitoring data from 2020 to 2025 reveals a complex picture of environmental conditions across Chandrapur.

The city showed marginal improvement in 2024, with 73 out of 366 days classified as 'Good' according to the Air Quality Index, compared to just 32 days in 2023. However, this improvement was attributed primarily to unseasonal rainfall and weather changes rather than systematic policy interventions.

Detailed analysis of air quality data shows that winter months from October to January consistently recorded the highest pollution levels, with 113 out of 123 days showing poor air quality.

The summer months from February to May also performed poorly, with 114 out of 121 days exceeding 'Good' air quality standards. Even during the traditionally cleaner monsoon season, pollution persisted on 76 out of 122 days, driven primarily by ozone pollution recorded on 54 days.

A four-month assessment conducted in 2022 found that the average PM2.5 level across three locations in Chandrapur was 81.7 μg/m³, which exceeded both National Ambient Air Quality Standards and World Health Organisation guidelines by significant margins.

The monitoring revealed that Chandrapur experienced 'bad air days' on 105 out of 122 monitored days, with PM2.5 levels crossing permissible limits of 60 μg/m³.

Water pollution has emerged as an equally serious concern, with the CEPI Water Index reaching 51.75 in June 2023, representing one of the highest components of the overall pollution score.

Surface water monitoring revealed multiple exceedances of prescribed limits, particularly for total phosphate, which exceeded standards in 11 out of 17 samples collected across the region. Fluoride levels exceeded prescribed limits in samples from Tadali and in all samples collected from MIDC Ghugus and MIDC Ballarpur.

The Wardha River, Vidarbha's second-largest river, has been particularly affected by industrial pollution. ACC Limited's cement plant was found polluting the river near Ghugus, with the company discharging black effluent outside factory premises for several years. Environmental activists reported that the effluent flows into the Wardha River near Nakoda, violating zero discharge norms and affecting the river that serves as a lifeline for the district.

Groundwater quality has also deteriorated significantly, with the Land Index reaching 60.88 in June 2023, the highest component of the overall CEPI score.

Total phosphate exceeded limits in samples from all monitored locations, with agricultural processes identified as a primary contributor to this contamination. Fluoride levels exceeded standards in all monitored groundwater samples across Tadali, MIDC Chandrapur, MIDC Ghugus, and MIDC Ballarpur.

The severity of Chandrapur's pollution crisis has prompted significant regulatory and legal interventions. The National Green Tribunal imposed a Rs 5 crore penalty on the Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station in January 2022, directing the formation of a joint committee to monitor remedial actions.

The tribunal warned that polluting units would be shut down if compliance directives were not met within specified timeframes.

Maharashtra Environment Minister Pankaja Munde announced the formation of an expert committee in March 2025 to address severe air and noise pollution in Chandrapur. The minister confirmed plans to visit the district for on-ground assessment and assured stronger compliance mechanisms, including higher penalties for violations and increased bank guarantees for polluting industries.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has implemented various measures to address pollution, including the installation of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems, Common Effluent Treatment Plants, and online volatile organic compound analysers. The board has also enforced stricter monitoring protocols and increased penalties for non-compliance with environmental norms.

Economic and Social Consequences

The pollution crisis has had severe economic and social consequences for Chandrapur's residents. The 2021 health survey found that 69 percent of respondents believed investing in local real estate would yield negative returns due to environmental conditions.

Additionally, 70 percent of respondents expressed willingness to leave Chandrapur for better opportunities elsewhere, indicating the profound impact pollution has had on the district's social fabric.

The economic burden extends beyond individual households to include healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and environmental remediation expenses. The 2020 study estimated that pollution from the thermal power station alone contributed to over 800,000 sick leave days across central India, representing significant economic losses.

Environmental degradation has also affected agricultural productivity, with multiple reports of crop damage due to industrial pollution. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has received complaints from agricultural organisations regarding damage to crops surrounding industrial facilities, particularly cement plants.

Recent data from 2025 shows mixed progress in addressing Chandrapur's pollution crisis. The CEPI score decreased from 76.41 in 2018 to 66.32 in June 2023, representing approximately 13 percent improvement. However, this improvement occurred primarily in air quality indices, whilst water and land pollution indices remain elevated.

The district continues to face significant challenges in balancing industrial development with environmental protection. New industrial projects, including steel plants and expanded mining operations, are being proposed even as existing facilities struggle to meet environmental compliance standards.

The implementation of the National Clean Air Programme has provided a framework for systematic air quality improvement, with Chandrapur designated as a non-attainment city requiring targeted interventions. However, progress remains slow, and the district continues to experience air quality that poses significant health risks to its residents.

Environmental experts emphasise that addressing Chandrapur's pollution crisis requires coordinated action across multiple fronts, including stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, investment in cleaner technologies, and comprehensive health impact assessments.

The district's experience serves as a critical case study for understanding the complex relationship between industrial development and environmental protection in India's rapidly industrialising regions.

The people of Chandrapur continue to live with the daily reality of severe environmental degradation, even as government agencies, industry, and civil society organisations work to address the crisis.

The data from 2020 to 2025 demonstrates that whilst some progress has been made, significant challenges remain in ensuring environmental sustainability and protecting public health in this vital industrial region of Vidarbha.