| File Note: |
It sibmitted that the thermal power plant was issued notice to issue directions u/s 31-A of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 alongwith notice for imposition of Environmental Compensation alongwith an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chairperson of the Board on 16.12.2025, postponed to 24.12.2025.
Sh. Manjinder Singh CE, Sh. Tej Bansal, Dy CE and Sh. B.S. Soni Dy CE attended the hearing on behalf of the industry and submitted written reply to the notice issued, which has been taken on record. They further stated that:-
• The ESPs of stage -1 units (2 X 210 MW ) were commissioned in 1998. The designed SPM emission values of these ESPs are 100 mg/Nm3. The SPM emission norms for these units are also are 100 mg/Nm3. These units (unit-1 &2) are fully complying with the emission norms.
• The ESPs of stage -1 units (2 X 250 MW) were commissioned in 2008. The designed SPM emission values of these ESPs are 100 mg/Nm3. However, the SPM emission norms for these units have been revised to be 50 mg/Nm3. As these units (unit-3 & 4 have presently their SPM emission values more than 50 mg/Nm3, these units require upgradation/health restoration of their ESPs.
For health restoration of ESP of unit -3 with some modifications, work order – cum – contract agreement dated 14.10.2025 has been placed on M/s GE Power India Limited, Noida. The work is under progress and will be completed by the end of December, 2025. The work of health restoration of ESP of unit -4, will be got carried out during annual overhauling of this unit Feb-March, 2026.
• The SPM values may be higher momentarily due to some technical reasons like high ash coal or auto cycle of rapping of ESP fields at the moment of collection of samples.
• The copies of adequacy certificate of APCDs for unit-1 & 2 from the OEMs manual have been already submitted to the Regional Office- Bathinda (Copy Attached).
• The thermal power plant is making all out efforts for cofiring of adequate quantity of non-torrified Biomass pallets during 2025-26 so far, this plant has been able to co-fire 2.1 % biomass pallets against the CAQM fixed target of 7 %. This is because of many practical constraints being faced by the plant. The biomass pallets manufacturing industry is in developing stage in Punjab and most of the unit are of very small capacity i.e 10-20 MT per day and not able to supply regular because of disruptions related to their business. POs had been placed on 06 no. firms in April, 2024 and the quantity to be delivered is 171 MT per day for 02 years i.e. upto April, 2026.
To achieve the desired target of cofiring (i.e. 5% ) additional 4 no PO's were places in November, 2024 for supplying 200 MT/day of Biomass pallets. Further to achieve the target in 2025-26, E-Tender Enquiryno.1780/FE&T/O&M/PO-2652 dated 20.03 2025 was issued. Against this enquiry, PO's were issued- to 10 no. firms in Sept-2025 for supply of 440 MT per day of biomass non-torrefied pellets. As for the year 2025-26. CAOM has revised the target of cofiring of pellets from 5% to 7% So, to bridge the supply gap. GHTP has floated another E-tender enquiry on dtd 09-12-2025 for supplying 800 MTPD material.
GHTP is now receiving non-torrefied biomass pellets in the range of 400 to 500 MTPD and this quantity is expected to reach in the range of 600 MTPD in the coming months as new firms have started supply. Hence the co firing %age will improve in the coming days. It is pertinent to mention that GHTP Lehra Mohabbat has co-fired 54198 MT of pellets till date, which is 2.1% of the overall coal consumption.
• Setting_up_of a biomass pellet manufacturing unit in the GHTF premises: Further, in order to establish a regular supply chain of biomass pellets for GHTP, PSPCL pursued with M/s. NTPO Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVNL) for setting up a non- torrefied biomass pallet manufacturing unit in the GHTP premises and handed over 1 acre of land for construction of pellet unit & 5.7 acres of land for storage of paddy straw to M/s NVVNL. It established a 40 MTPD capacity unit and also stored 5500 MT of paddy straw as raw material at GHTP But due to technical constraints faced by NVVNL, this unit could not be made operational so far. However, GHTP is offering possible help to M/s NWNL for rectifying technical every problems and hopefully, this unit will start working in near future.
From the above, it is very much clear that GHTP has taken all necessary steps to achieve the mandated biomass consumption target, including floating tenders, securing purchase agreements with various biomass pellet firms and even unit, But still GHTP is lagging the target due to significant providing GHTP land for construction of pellet manufacturing and unforeseen challenges in the form of persistent short supply of biomass pellets from the contracted firms and technical issues faced by M/s NVVNL in commissioning the pallet manufacturing unit at GHTP, Although they are actively working to diversity our supplier base and strengthen procurement strategy, still it is their duty to bring in kind notice that there are not enough suppliers of non-torrified biomass pellets of sufficient capacity in the region.
• The approach road in CHP area was repaired/reconstructed in 2021-2022. This road has deteriorated due to continuous movement of heavy vehicles carrying biomass pellets and pond ash. The work order for repair and maintenance of road work has already been issued, work shall commence soon. Further consultation with Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology is in process for repair/construction of pucca road leading to pellet storage area.
• Pellet spillage and ash accumulation areas are being monitored daily and necessary housekeeping measures are being carried out regularly. For pellet storage, a shed has been proposed and case is in movement.
For ash and dust suppression sprinkling or water carried out daily in the first half of the day and the movement of trucks (with speed restriction) in this area is allowed in this period only. Still acting on observation, water sprinkling activity has been extended to evening hours.
In view of the above, it is humbly requested that the consent to operate for GHTP Lehra Mohabbat under Air Act, 1981 granted upto 31.3.2026 may not be revoked and it is requested not to impose any environmental compensation as substantial corrective efforts by them are already initiated.
After hearing, the representative of the industry and officers of the Board and considering the materials facts on record, the Chairperson of the Board decided that: -
1. The Thermal Power Plant shall upgrade the Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs) in time bound manner to achieve the emission standards prescribed by MOEF&CC vide notification dated 07.12.2015 & its subsequent amendments.
2. The Thermal Power Plant shall comply with the directions issued by Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) time to time and shall achieve the target regarding use of 7% bio-mass pellets for co-firing during the financial year 2025-26.
3. The Thermal Power Plant shall provide permanent skid mounted tankers for regular sprinkling in the areas including approach and internal roads leading to the pellet handling area, coal storage area, etc.
4. The Thermal Power Plant shall improve overall housekeeping in handling and storage zones and ensure regular cleaning, within 15 days.
5. The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Bathinda shall calculate the interim Environmental Compensation w.e.f. 01.01.2025 to 30.11.2025 for non-compliance of notifications dated 31.03.2021, 05.09.2022 and 11.07.2025 issued by MOEF&CC regarding upgradation of Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs) by thermal power plants to achieve the prescribed standards and shall submit the calculation to the EC verification Committee, within 15 days.
6. The thermal power plant shall be visited by the same team of officers of the Board which visited the unit on 6.11.2025, after two months.
7. The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Bathinda shall visit the industry to verify the compliance status at site & submission of the industry as per the protocol, get the Environmental Compensation w.e.f. 01.01.2025 to 30.11.2025 imposed on the thermal plant from the EC verification committee and submit the report with conclusive recommendations in the matter, within 15 days.
Submitted for confirmation of the decisions of the proceedings of hearing dated 24.12.2025, please.
|
