NEAA dismisses appeal againstShahpur project

522308 : Business : NEAA dismisses appeal against Maharashtra Energy Generation

NEAA dismisses appeal against Maharashtra Energy Generation

Published: March 12,2009

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New Delhi, Mar 12 The National Environment Appellate Authority has dismissed the appeal filed by a farmers&aposassociation challenging environment clearance order for the Shahpur project of Maharashtra Energy Generation Ltd, a Reliance ADAG group company.
The appeal was filed by Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti, which challenged the environment clearance for setting up a 4,000 MW natural gas and coal based power project at Shahapur district, Raigad.

The appeal was filed on the ground that the environment clearance order was based on misleading information, it did not take note of the Environment Protection Act and would lead to acute water logging problem in adjoining villages.

Besides, the gas based thermal power plant is unviable without standby fuel, while the order permits only two types of fuels namely coal and gas. Meanwhile, acute water problem was also envisaged in Alibag Taluka because of the proposed Thermal power plant.

The project, proposed to be implemented in two phases, requires 919 hectare.

Estimated project cost is Rs 12,000 crore which includes Rs 218 crore for environmental protection measures.

SEAC minutes- Excerpt on Finolex TPP at Ranpar, Ratnagiri

Minutes of the 8th meeting of the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC)
Date : 7th March, 2009
Present
1. Shri P.M.A. Hakeem - Chairman
2. Shri GK Deshpande - Member
3. Dr. Kishore Bhoir - Member
4. Dr. SB Chapekar - Member
5. Dr V.R. Gunale - Member
6. Dr. SK Padole - Member
7. Dr. TG More - Member
8. Shri GN Warade - Member-Secretary
S.No. in the agenda

Name and addresss of the project proponent with brief details of the project: Finolex Industries Ltd.43 MW Thermal Power Project (Captive) at Ranpar, Ratnagiri ENV-08/C.R 175/C.R1
Category: B-2
Decision of the Committee:
Before the presentation was made by the project proponent, two representatives of Pawas Golap Dashahkroshi Janhit Samiti who wanted to make representation against the project were heard. They pointed out that there would be adverse impact on the environment of the district, particularly on mango trees and fisheries, if various proposed power projects (including the proposed captive power plant) to the tune of many thousands of MW are installed. They also stated that till various studies on the environmental impact of all such projects are carried out, approval to the project should be held up. The project proponent then made a detailed presentation on the need to set up the power project, as the steady power availability to their PVC project has become uncertain and the various proposed measures to substantially reduce the environmental impact of the project. They explained the various measures proposed to be taken to allay the fears of the people who have raised objection to the project and confirmed that the various measures promised to be taken by them in the public hearing would be implemented. After discussion, it was decided to recommend grant of prior environmental clearance to the project subject to the project
proponent complying/furnishing the following:
(i) Boiler capacity, exact quantity of ash to be generated, metal content of ash and physico-chemical characteristics of coal to be indicated.
(ii) Initiate steps to implement the assurances given in the public hearing to determine protocol/modalities to be followed on arrival of ships.
(iii) Indicate the proposed precautions to collect and treat surface drainage from the plot to ensure that water in the adjoining plots is polluted.
(iv) Explore the option of waste heat recovery.
(v) Details of the arrangement for the complete utilization of fly ash.
(vi) Explore the possiblility of providing flue gas desulphurisation considering the emission of sulphur dioxide or hydrogen sulphide in the exhaust.