Talwandi Sabo power plant fined ₹5 lakh for pollution

PATIALA: The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has indicted the Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Plant for flouting environment ministry norms and causing pollution. It has been fined ₹5 lakh for using coal with more than 34% ash content to produce power, causing fly ash pollution. The private plant management has also been told to deposit an additional surety of ₹30 lakh.

The PPCB issued orders to the plant on Wednesday to compensate cotton farmers in Mansa, who suffered losses because of the fly ash pollution. The plant, which tried to save on freight charges by using the unwashed coal, will now invest ₹1 crore to improve its pollution control devices. The action follows a Hindustan Times report, “Talwandi Sabo private power plant flouts green laws to save ₹400 crore”, on December 6, 2016, that said the plant management was using coal with ash content of 48% in violation of norms.

The plant burdened power consumers too as they ended up paying ₹280 crore per year as dues. The average per unit cost of power was higher than that produced at Larsen & Toubro’s Rajpura plant. The power cost between ₹4.90 and ₹5 per unit at the Talwandi Sabo plant, while it’s between ₹4.25 and ₹4.50 a unit at the Rajpura plant.

Taking cognizance of the HT report, the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission started proceedings against the power plant, while the PPCB initiated action after complaints of pollution. PPCB chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said a field staff was sent to the area after complaints of air pollution due to the blowing of fly ash from the Talwandi Sabo plant and damage to cotton in nearby areas. After the lapses were highlighted, the plant authorities were summoned.

“The Talwandi Sabo power plant management admitted to a technical fault. The plant has been directed to ensure the use of good coal with ash content of not more than 34, which is mandatory. If the plant fails to adhere to this, we will take stern action,” Pannu said.

PSPCL chairman and managing director A Venu Prasad said ensuring environment ministry norms are followed is in the PPCB’s ambit, thus the PSPCL wrote to it. He declined comment when told that the power purchase agreement stipulates that the plant has to adhere to all conditions of the central and state governments too.