HYDERABAD: All major hurdles have been cleared for the 1,080 MW Bhadradri Thermal Power Project with the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests recommending to the Centre to issue Environmental Clearance (EC) for the project.
The 270x4 MW thermal project with the sub-critical technology being set up by the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TS-Genco) in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and being executed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) ran into rough weather with a civil action group raising objections over environmental violations and moved the National Green Tribunal in December 2015.
EC in 10 day
Official sources told The Hindu that based on the EAC recommendation, the MoEF would issue the all important EC within week-10 days.
Work on the ₹ 7,300 crore project, suspended since early 2016, is expected to be back on track in a fortnight’s time.
“The environmental clearance will reach the officials of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board from MoEF and then it would be sent to TS-Genco”, the sources said explaining the process.
The reconstituted EAC took up the Bhadradri project issue at its meeting on January 20 and recommended the case for grant of Environmental Clearance “after detailed deliberations, discussions and considering all facts presented by the project proponent, including complaints from some civil action groups”.
Sources in TS-Genco stated that over ₹1,020 crore has been spent on Bhadradri TPP works so far. “We are confident of completing the project in a year’s time as the machinery for the project is ready with BHEL,” the sources said.
Legal undertaking
While recommending issuance of EC to Bhadradri thermal project, the EAC stipulated that “a legal undertaking shall be given that project proponent owns the EIA/EMP and other documents submitted for appraisal, feasibility study of Merry Go Round (MGR) system for coal transportation be explored and submitted to MoEF”.
It has suggested TS-Genco to explore alternate technologies so that water consumption is reduced further and as recommended by the National Institute of Hydrology, Kakinada, appropriate lining should be done for ash pond area to safeguard groundwater quality and reduce leaching impact towards the proposed township. Further, it wants transportation of fly ash done through tarpaulin covered trucks only.
The project proponent has been asked to submit the EAC a copy of the impact assessment carried out by Irrigation Department of Telangana regarding possible downstream impact of withdrawal of 1.5 TMC ft water a year from the Godavari river.
