Bathinda: The Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) has deposited 50% of the Rs 4.8-crore environmental compensation imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), for failing to meet the biomass pellet/briquette co-firing target in 2024–25.Apart from depositing half of the penalty amount, the PSPCL has filed an application with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), challenging the CAQM order on April 1 for stay of the imposition of environmental compensation on state-run Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) at Lehra Mohabbat in Bathinda on the lines of stay granted to other thermal plants. The information was provided by the PSPCL to the NGT in an affidavit filed on July 14.The biomass pellet co-firing rate at GHTP was among the lowest, at just 2%, among the eight thermal power plants in the NCR across Punjab and Haryana, falling short of the mandatory 3% biomass co-firing requirement with coal.During a hearing on April 28 on PSPCL’s challenge to the CAQM penalty, the NGT admitted the appeal and observed that it would pass an interim order in line with similar cases, where CAQM penalties for failing to meet biomass co-firing targets were stayed subject to the deposit of 50% of the penalty amount. However, when the order was uploaded on May 12, it made no mention of the interim relief sought by PSPCL. The corporation subsequently filed an application seeking the relief order, along with another plea for its urgent listing. The matter has now been fixed for hearing on July 27.On July 1, the PSPCL sought time of four weeks to make payment of 50% of the penalty amount in the light of the strike by employees at GHTP from June 15 and finally made the payment of 50%.Earlier, the CAQM imposed Environmental Compensation (EC) under Rule 3 of the Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023, read with Section 12 of the CAQM Act, 2021, against six coal-based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) located within a radius of 300 km of Delhi for non-compliance/contravention of statutory provisions that mandated use of 5% blend of pellets or briquettes made of paddy straw crop residue along with coal.The Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023, mandate all coal-based TPPs to utilise 5% blend of biomass pellets or briquettes along with coal, with a minimum threshold of 3% co-firing prescribed for financialyear 2024 -25 to avoid imposition of environmental compensation. These statutory provisions were notified with the objective of promoting ex-situ management of crop residue, reducing instances of paddy straw burning, and mitigating air pollution in NCR and adjoining areas.The EC of Rs 33.02 crore was proposed for Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd; Rs 4.8 crore for Guru Hargobind Thermal Power Plant. For four thermal plants in Haryana, EC of Rs 8.9 crore was proposed for Panipat Thermal Power Station; Rs 6.69 crore for Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Station, Yamunanagar; Rs 5.55 crore for Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Plant, Hisar; and Rs 2.74 crore for Harduaganj Thermal Power Station, Uttar Pradesh. The total EC proposed for these six TPPs amounts to Rs 61.8 crore. The CAQM has stated that since its issuance of direction on Sept 17, 2021, it intensively reviewed the matter with all concerned stakeholders , including TPPs. Observing a huge lag in compliance and directions of the Supreme Court, the commission in early 2024 issued notices u/s 14 of the CAQM Act, 2021, to TPPs whose performance was consistently poor since the exercise started. MSID:: 132417104 413 |
