“A coal-fired giant slumbering,” someone whispered, gesturing towards the hulking form of the Badarpur Thermal Power Station. The Badarpur Thermal Power Station. It was a behemoth of steel and concrete, a testament to a bygone era of energy production. The plant, now decommissioned, stands as a silent observer of Delhi’s ever-changing skyline. It officially ceased operations on October 15, 2018, after over four decades of powering the national capital.
The Badarpur Thermal Power Station, initially conceived in 1965, was India’s first central sector power plant. It was designed to provide electricity to several neighboring states, including Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and, of course, Delhi. However, from 1987 onwards, Delhi became its sole beneficiary. Construction began in 1968, and the first unit was commissioned on July 26, 1973. Coal for the plant came from the Jharia Coal Fields.
The Badarpur Thermal Power Station had a total installed capacity of 705 MW, distributed across five units. The first three units, commissioned between 1973 and 1975, each had a capacity of 95 MW. The later two units, added in 1978 and 1981, boasted a capacity of 210 MW each. Originally under the Central Electric Authority, the plant’s management was transferred to NTPC in 1978. This led to a significant improvement in the plant’s performance, which continued until 2006. However, the plant eventually faced various challenges due to its age, the quality of cooling water, and the deteriorating quality of coal supplied.
The Badarpur Thermal Power Station had a significant environmental impact. A 2015 study identified it as the most polluting power plant in India. Despite contributing only 8% of Delhi’s electricity, it was responsible for a staggering 30-40% of the city’s particulate matter pollution from the energy sector. This pollution contributed to the infamous Great Smog of Delhi. The plant was temporarily shut down during these periods of acute air pollution before its final closure in 2018. The closure of the Badarpur Thermal Power Station marked a turning point in Delhi’s fight against air pollution. Although it once served as a crucial energy source, its legacy is now intertwined with the environmental challenges faced by the city. The silent giant now serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between energy production and environmental sustainability.