NGT fines Mahagenco Rs 5 cr for fly ash violations at KTPS

 

 

 

 

(NGT) imposed a penalty of Rs 5 crore over Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd (Mahagenco) for non-utilisation of fly ash and serious violation of environmental norms in Koradi Thermal Power Station (KTPS). In addition, the Tribunal has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to assess and recover further Environmental Compensation, which is expected to run into several crores of rupees. Mahagenco commissioned three coal-based thermal units of 660 MW each—Units 8, 9 and 10 - at the Koradi Power Station during the period 2010 to 2017. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had granted Environmental Clearance (EC) for the project on January 4, 2010. However, even after several years of operation, Mahagenco failed to comply with key conditions stipulated in the EC, despite the plant being located in close proximity to Nagpur city.

 

Aggrieved by the continued non-compliance, Nagpur-based environmental groups - Krishi Vigyan Arogya Sanstha, Kisan Manch, and Pradyumna Sahasrabhojanee —filed Application No. 62 of 2021 (WZ) before the NGT, against Mahagenco, MoEF&CC, the State of Maharashtra, and MPCB. The applicants sought strict implementation of EC conditions, including green belt development, use of treated sewage water, 100 per cent fly ash utilisation, and time-bound installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), in its 32nd Thermal Power Meeting, had recorded Mahagenco’s continued non-compliance with EC conditions. The EAC also noted that emissions of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) were beyond permissible limits.

 

Despite this, Mahagenco repeatedly sought waivers from MoEF&CC instead of complying with statutory requirements, raising serious concerns about public health in the Nagpur region. After examining inspection reports, affidavits, and submissions from all parties, the NGT held that Mahagenco had failed to achieve 100 per cent fly ash utilisation within the stipulated time-frame and had dumped fly ash without mandatory HDPE/LDPE lining at ash bunds. The Tribunal directed Mahagenco to deposit Rs 5 crore with MPCB as Environmental Compensation. The entire amount recovered is to be utilised exclusively for environmental improvement and remediation at the project site, and MPCB has been directed to submit a compliance report to the Tribunal after utilisation of the funds.