| File Note: |
As discussed
It is submitted that the industry is a 17 category thermal power plant and same was earlier granted consent to operate under Water Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Renewal/BTI/2025/28242000 dt. 17.04.2025 valid upto 31.03.2026 for production of power @ 920 MW (2x210 MW + 2x250 MW) subject to the same conditions as mentioned in the original consent along-with the following special conditions mentioned therein.
The industry has applied for renewal of consent to operate under Air Act, 1981 which is under consideration of Competent Authority of the Board and the same is yet to be decided.
M/s Guru Hargobind Singh Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat, Bathinda is having four no. units of 2x210 MW capacity and 2x250 MW capacity, out of the 04 plants 02 were established in 1998 and 02 were established in 2008.
The plant has provided separate Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) as APCDs with each unit.
The industry has installed online continuous monitoring system on all the stacks for the parameters of SPM, SO2 & NOX and same have been connected with the server of CPCB and PPCB.
MoEF&CC vide notification no. SO3305(E) dated 07.12.2015 has renotified emission standards of SPM for thermal power plants installed before 31.12.2003 as 100 mg/Nm3 and after 01.01.2004 upto 31.12.2016 was re-notified as 50 mg/Nm3. As per notification no. GSR243 (E) dated 31.03.2021, this TPP is under category-C and the timeline for adoption of the above standards as notified in notification dated 07.12.2015 was 31.12.2024.
As per above notifications the prescribed limit for SPM for the 02 units established in 1998 is 100 mg/Nm3 and for remaining 02 units established in 2008 is 50 mg/Nm3. Therefore, the industry was required to upgrade APCD attached with unit no. 03 and 04 to achieve emission standards of 50 mg/Nm3.
Recently, the plant was visited by the officers of this office on 09.02.2026 and during visit following observations were observed:
1. The Thermal Power Plant has upgraded one of its ESP installed with unit no. 3 and remaining ESP installed with unit no. 4 was also under special repair to achieve revised emission standards and unit no. 4 was on scheduled shut down due to repair work/upgradation of APCD.
2. During visit stack emission sampling of unit no. 1,2 and 3 was carried out and unit no. 4 was on scheduled shut down due to upgradation/maintenance of ESP. As per the analysis report 1 unit number 3 was still not achieving revised emission standards inspite off the upgradation of ESP.
3. As per record obtained from the plant it has consumed 3.3% of biomass pellets for cofiring since from April 2025 to 15 March 2026. Hence plant is not achieving target of 7% as decided by CAQM.
The plant was also visited by surprise team consisting of SEE, ZO-2, Ludhiana and EE, Water Lab, Ludhiana on 10.03.2026 and during visit team collected effluent sample from oxidation pond. As per analysis report concentration of various parameters were found as pH-7.4, Total Suspended Solids (mg/l)-19, Chemical Oxygen Demand (mg/l)-32, BOD-6 and Oil & Grease (mg/l)-BDL. The results are within the prescribed limits.
Now, the unit has applied for the renewal of consent to operate under Water Act, 1974 and unit has deposited consent fee of Rs. 1440000/- vide no. SBIN126077493478 dt. 18.03.2026 , which is adequate upto 31.03.2027.
In view of the visit of the industry carried out by surprise team on 10.03.2026 as well as effluent sampling carried out by the team, the plant is complying with the provisions of Water Act, 1974 and action for non compliance of Air Act, 1981 is under process in this regard, the industry has been issued Notice u/s 31-A of Air Act, 1981 has been issued to the industry alongwith an opportunity of personal hearing before Chairperson of the Board on 05.05.2026. Action w.r.t. air is to be dealt separately.
In view of above, it is recommended that Consent to operate under Water Act, 1974 may be granted to the thermal plant upto 31.03.2027 with suitable conditions.
Competency: Hon’ble Chairperson of the Board
|
