With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements:

1. None of them uses seawater.
2. None of them is set up in water-stressed district.
3. None of them is privately owned.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

The correct answer is (d) None.

Explanation:

It’s incorrect that none of the coal-based thermal power plants in India uses seawater. Many coastal power plants in India use seawater for cooling purposes. For instance, the Mundra Thermal Power Station in Gujarat, India, which is one of the largest coal-based power plants in the country, uses seawater for cooling.
It’s incorrect that none of the thermal power plants is set up in a water-stressed district. Some thermal power plants in India are indeed located in water-stressed regions. For example, many plants in the states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra, which frequently face water scarcity issues, rely on local water sources for their operations.
It’s incorrect that none of the coal-based thermal power plants in India is privately owned. There are several private players in the thermal power sector in India, including companies like Tata Power, Adani Power, and Reliance Power, among others. They own and operate a number of coal-based thermal power plants in the country.

Hence, none of the statements is correct.