Green tribunal’s red signal to power plant

Threat to godavari riverbed

The much-hyped super power plant initiated by the TS govt runs into trouble following tweaking of green norms

• Human Rights Forum faults the government for flouting environmental laws
• National Green Tribunal orders the halt of the plant works

Manuguru (Khammam): Has the Telangana State government landed itself in trouble by adopting sub-critical technology in the age of supercritical and ultra-supercritical tech for the proposed 4x270 MW Bhadradri Thermal Power Plant at Manuguru? The answer seems to be ‘yes’ following the ex-parte stay order given by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stop the works of the plant.

Soon after the formation of the State, the government, which was in a hurry to tackle the severe power crisis in a possible quick time, opted for ready-for-installation units of sub-critical technology available with its contracting agency BHEL. With a hope that it would get all clearances, the TSGenco initiated construction works of the power plant. This despite the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has announced phasing out of old technology by 2019.

It may be mentioned here that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) while giving Environmental Clearance (EC) to the proposed 800 MW supercritical unit at KTPS in Paloncha, has put a rider to the TSGenco to dismantle its eight old units that produce 720 MW power. Of late, supercritical technology used in thermal power projects has gained significance due to its fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

In this backdrop, the Human Rights Forum (HRF) moved the NGT last month to stop the ongoing works of Bhadradri plant contending that the plant violates several environmental norms. This apart, the HRF also raised concern over possible contamination of Godavari River which is hardly a kilometre away from the plant.

The Southern Zone Bench in Chennai on Tuesday, which sought a response from the TSGenco, posted the case to January 8, 2016, while issuing ex-parte orders to stop the works of the plant.

The HRF General Secretary VS Krishna told The Hans India that it was a brazen violation of environmental laws and procedural norms by the TSGenco. TSGenco Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) D Prabhakar Rao said: “The procedure for obtaining the EC is on. The project works were initiated only to save the time in view of severe power crunch. We will try to vacate the ex-parte order as early as possible.”

A senior official, who is overseeing the power plant works, said on Wednesday that plant work is in progress as they had not received any orders to suspend them.

The coal-based plant coming up in over 1,030 acres at Chikkudugunta village under Manuguru mandal at an estimated cost of Rs 7,921 crore has been in the thick of controversy right from the day one. The members of around 1,029 families who were displaced by the project are up against the administration seeking better compensation and job opportunities.

Quite a few times, the displaced obstructed the works of the power plant and even pelted stones damaging excavating machines. The oustees also staged a protest when the Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao came to inaugurate the works formally on May 28.

By Adepu Mahender