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Id:

22407690

Approve:

false

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Clarification:

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Date Created:

2023-06-13 09:25:27.69

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Subject: Proceedings of the personal hearing given to M/s Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Village Lehra Mohabat, Bathinda before refusal of 'consents to operate' under the provisions of Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 by the Chairman on 08.06.2023. The following were present: From Board's side: Er. G.S. Majithia, Member Secretary Er. Rakesh Kumar, SEE, ZO, Bathinda From the industry side: Sh. Manjinder Singh, Additional SE Sh. Gurpreet Singh, Additional SE                        It was brought out that the industry is a thermal power plant of 920 MW capacity (2x210 MW & 2x 250 MW) & was granted consents to operate under the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 on 13.05.2022 (valid upto 31.03.2023), subject to one of the special condition that the industry will ensure to comply with the timelines as specified in the MoEF notification dated 31.03.2021 to achieve the revised emission norms.                    MOEF&CC vide notification dated 07.12.2015 prescribed revised emission standards for the thermal power plants w.r.t. the parameter of PM, SO2, NOx & Hg. In order to achieve, the said standards, the thermal power plants were directed by the CPCB as under:- 1.   That plant shall install / retrofit electrostatic precipitator (ESP) by December 31, 2019, in unit 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively so as to achieve PM emission limit. 2.   That plant shall install FGD by December 31, 2019, in unit 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively so as to comply SO2 emission limit. 3.   That plant shall take immediate measures like installation of low NOx burners, providing over fire air etc. and achieve progressive reduction so as to comply to NOx emission limit by the year, 2019.                    MoEF&CC vide its notification dated 31.03.2021, increased the above mentioned timelines upto 31.12.2024 for the parameter other than SO2 and upto 31.12.2026 for the parameter of SO2 for the thermal power plants which does not fall within 10 km radius of National Capital Region or Cities having million plus population or critically polluted areas or non-attainment cities.                    The industry has now applied for obtaining extension in the validity of 'consents to operate' under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981.                    The industry was visited by the officer of the Board on 01.05.2022 and it has been reported that the industry has not yet installed the FGD system to achieve the revised emission standards prescribed by MoEF&CC vide its notification dated 31.03.2021 for the thermal power plants.                    Air emission sample of the thermal power plant was collected by the officer of the Board on 12.05.2023 and as per the analysis report, the concentration of particulate matter is found beyond the permissible limit of 150 mg/Nm3 for path A (157 mg/Nm3), B (164 mg/Nm3), C (152 mg/Nm3), & D (177 mg/Nm3) of Unit-IV.                    Show cause notice before refusal of 'consents to operate' under the provisions of Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 has been issued to the industry alongwith an opportunity of personal hearing on 08.06.2023.             During hearing, the representatives of the industry submitted written reply of the notice issued to it, which has been taken on record. They further stated that:- 1. Regarding compliance of MOE&F notification to achieve revised emissions norms, the matter is being taken up with M/s BHEL. M/s BHEL has submitted the technical offer for comments. Comments on points related to various circles of GHTP for ESP Retrofit have been sent to M/s BHEL. Budgetary offer from M/s BHEL is awaited. The deadlines for installation of ESP retrofit is 31-12-2024 for GHTP units as per MOE&F notification dated 05.09.2022. 2.   Initially, it was planned to install Wet Lime based FGD for GHTP plant, for which financial liability was of Rs. 920 Crore. After taking consultancy from NTPC, a tender enquiry was floated (June 2019) for installation and commissioning of wet lime based FGD system in units of GHTP with last date of receiving bids as 23.08.2019. The bid submission date was finally extended upto 12-12-2019. Vide U.N. No. 2593/WTD- 242.20/2020/PSPCL dated 16.09.2020, WTD (Whole Time Directors) had decided to close the ongoing bidding process against PSPCL bidding document No-PSPCL/CW-CC-9971-109 dated 27-06-2019 and to float a fresh tender for installation of DSI (Dry Sorbent Injection) FGD (Flue gas desulphurization) system at GHTP. Lehra Mohabbat (Punjab) due to low PLF of plant. As such, now DSI based FGD system is to be installed at GHTP. Lehra Mohabbat units. For which estimated cost is Rs.181.65 Crore. Further an agenda no. 383/PS/MMC-II/03 dated 17/01/2023 of CE/GGSSTP Ropar has been sent to BODS for short closing the W.O. No. 117/MMC- II/83 dtd. 18-10-2018 placed upon M/s NTPC for consultancy services for preparation & post award engineering for installation of wet FGD and for placing a new work order upon M/s NTPC for providing Consultancy services for installation of dry FGDs at 4x210 MW units of GGSSTP, Ropar and 2x210 MW + 2x250 MW GHTP, Lehra Mohabbat thermal plants, which is under approval. The case for installation of Dry type FGD for stage I & II units will be processed accordingly to install the DSI based FGD system within the time frame given in MOE&F notification dated 05.09.2022 i.e. upto 31-12-2026. 3.   Unit 1 & 2 of GHTP commissioned in 1998 (i.e. before Dec. 2003) are complying with revised NOx emission values as per revised norms vide MOEF&CC notification dated 07/12/2015. Unit no. 3 & 4 commissioned in 2008 are also complying with the revised NOx emission values as the permissible value has been revised from 300 to 450 mg/Nm3 for unit commissioned between Jun 2004 to Dec. 2016 vide Gazette 4.   Further it is intimated that due to technical fault in some of the ESP fields on dated 12.05.2023, SPM levels in the emission stack were found to be on higher side temporarily. Prompt action was taken by the GHTP authorities to rectify the above said fault, resulting in low SPM levels of unit no.4.        After hearing the representative of the industry and the officers of the Board, the Chairman of the Board decided that:-   1.   The industry will ensure to comply with the timelines stipulated in the MoEF&CC notification dated 31.03.2021 regarding revised emission standards prescribed for the thermal power plants.   2.   The application applied by the industry under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 be processed on merit.   3.   The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Bathinda shall visit the industry, carry out re-sampling of its air emission samples and process the application applied under the Air Act, 1981 on merit.    4.   The matter regarding non-achievement of the emission norms by the industry be brought into the notice of CMD, PSPCL with the request to direct the concerned officials of the industry to achieve the air emission standards prescribed for such type of units at all times and also to ensure that the industry complies with the timelines stipulated in the MoEF&CC notification dated 31.03.2021.   5.   During hearing, it was made clear to the representatives of the industry that in case, the industry failed to comply with the decisions of the hearing and in case of any violation(s) in future under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981, further action as deemed fit under the said Acts shall be initiated, without any further notice /opportunity.                     Submitted for confirmation of the decisions of hearing dated 08.06.2023 please.

Inspection:

false

Inspection Note:

Officer:

PPCB075

Reject:

false

Reject Note:

Role:

ZO EE Ruby Sidhu