Env Ministry to look into power plant's impact on mango crop

Press Trust of India / New Delhi June 29, 2010, 15:09 IST

Taking serious note of complaints of Alphonso mango growers, the Environment Ministry has warned power producer JSW Energy Ltd that it will have to shut down its proposed plant in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra if its operations have adverse impact on fruit production.

The Ministry has also set up a panel to monitor the impact of the JSW group's 1200 MW coal-based plant operation, which is yet to be started, on the fruit production in the horticulture zone, Environment Ministry officials said.

With the locals expressing concerns that the plant will emit toxic gases spelling disaster to the fruit production, the ministry has asked the power firm to strictly follow the schedule for commissioning Rs 527 crore worth Flue Gas Desulfurisation (FGD) technology. FGD is a environment-friendly technology used for removing sulphur dioxide (SO2) from the exhaust flue gases of fossil fuel power plants using coals.

The ministry has made it clear to the company that it will reduce the power generation and change to a fuel with low sulphur content or close the power plant if SO2 emissions exceed the prescribed standards.

The three-member panel constituted by the ministry is headed by horticulturist P Pujari from Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth with a mandate to identify stations to monitor sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the region.

The other members include Girish Sant, Prayas Pune and member Secretary of Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board.

The other mandate of the committee include identifying the range of variations of SO2 levels that are safe for various phases of the plants such as vegetative, flowering and fruiting.

The committee, which will be funded by the project proponent, to execute its work has also been asked to monitor the yield potential and quality of the Alphonso mango as well.

According to a study by scientists from the Lucknow-based Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, published in the Journal of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in December 1999, SO2 reduces the quality and quantity of mangoes.

Ratnagiri farmers had approached the Mumbai High Court too fearing that the flyash and SO2 pollution will spell disaster for the mango orchards as well other crops in the region that, in 1997, was declared a horticulture zone.

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Environment Ministry had given clearance to the thermal power plant located in Jaigad in May 2007

See .Env Ministry to look into power plant's impact on mango crop

Prized India Mangos May Curb JSW Energy's Power Project Plans in Heartland - Bloomberg

Prized India Mangos May Curb JSW Energy's Power Project Plans in Heartland - Bloomberg

Prized India Mangos May Curb JSW Energy's Power Project Plans in Heartland

By Natalie Obiko Pearson - Jun 29, 2010

JSW Energy Ltd., an affiliate of India’s third-largest steelmaker, may have to scale back or shut down its biggest planned power project if pollution threatens mango crops near the plant, the Environment Ministry said.

JSW Energy plans to build a 1,200-megawatt, coal-fired power plant in Ratnagiri, the heart of an agricultural zone where India’s prized Alphonso mangos are grown.

“If at any point of time adverse impacts on mango orchards are noticed or established, the plant shall be shut down,” according to a letter to the company dated June 28, posted on the ministry’swebsite and verified by ministry spokeswomen Kalpana Palkhiwala in New Delhi by telephone.

The company was notified of changes to the environment clearance awarded to the project on April 16 in response to concerns that sulfur dioxide emissions may harm nearby mango crops.Sulfur dioxide is produced when coal is burned and can lead to acid rain, smog and haze, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Sharmila Banerjee, a spokeswoman for the JSW Group, didn’t answer phone calls or immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment.

India accounts for more than half of the world’s mango production, according to theAgricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. The Asian nation’s export of the fruit rose 33 percent to 1.7 billion rupees ($36 million) in the year ended March 31, 2009, according to the agency.

JSW Energy has told the ministry it will reduce output, change to a cleaner-burning fuel or close the proposed plant if it exceeds prescribed sulfur-dioxide emission levels, according to the letter.

The company’s current capacity is 1,000 megawatts, Managing Director Sajjan Jindal said Nov. 17. The utility plans to add at least 2,800 megawatts, of which the Ratnagiri plant is the biggest single project, according to its website.

JSW Energy is an affiliate of JSW Steel Ltd. based in Mumbai.

To contact the reporter on this story: Natalie Obiko Pearson in Mumbai atnpearson7@bloomberg.net.

1500 MW Pollution-free TPP at Guhagar? !. !!!!

Coming soon...First time ever !!!  Pollution free Thermal power projects !! Is it a new ploy to cheat people ??!!!
--- Arun

Tiana Group to set up 90 power projects across India � INDOLINK Consulting’s blog – Your business blog to India

Tiana Group to set up 90 power projects across India

May 14, 2010 — INDOLINK Consulting (es)

Mumbai/ Pune: The Government of India has approved in-principle to let Tiana Group set up, operate and maintain 90 power projects across the country in hydro, thermal, solar, wind and nuclear power segments along with Mitsubishi, Japan. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the same will signed in the coming ten days between the companies.

The Tiana Group, a new entrant in the power segment is committed to supplying low cost power to Indian consumers and wants to contribute to effort of pollution control in India. Along with Mitsubishi, the company will take steps in limiting pollution caused by the Groups’ thermal power projects.

“The Group’s thermal power projects in Guhagar and Anjarle (Ratnagiri, Maharashtra) will be free of pollution thanks to the German technology. These projects will not be harmful nor pollutants in any way. We will in fact try to process, use and reuse sea water in the thermal power generation. Our projects will generate employment, protect environment and improve the standard of living of the local people. We have already announced that the Group will offer land owners educational and medical facilities free of cost and will offer these facilities for others at concessional fees,” Mohammedi Fatehi, director, Tiana Group of Companies said.

The power plant at Guhagar is 1500 mega watt while the one at Anjarle will be 2000 mega watt capacity. Tiana Group which registered itself in August last year as a power projects’ company has an investment budget of close to Rs 70 crore out of which Rs 30 crore will be for projects within Maharashtra and the rest Rs 40 crore are reserved for power projects outside the state. Tiana and Mitsubishi Groups will also work together in areas such as infrastructure development including construction of roads bridges and residential, automotive, airlines, railways, shipping, cement, oil and gas, banking and financial services and electronics.

Source: Business Standard, May 13, 2010

Green panel refuses nod to Tata Power expansion in Dhanbad - The Times of India

Green panel refuses nod to Tata Power expansion in Dhanbad - Pollution - Environment - Home - The Times of India

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Green panel refuses nod to Tata Power expansion in Dhanbad

PTI, May 5, 2010, 07.45pm IST

NEW DELHI: An environment panel has refused nod to expansion plan of Tata Power in Dhanbad in Jharkhand citing a moratorium imposed on construction activities in the critically polluted areas till August in the country.

The Tata Power Company had proposed expansion by addition of two units of 660 MW coal-based thermal power plant from existing two units of 525 MW at Maithon in Dhanbad District which has been identified as the most polluted city in Jharkhand as per a government survey.

The expansion proposal had come up before the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for determination of terms of reference (ToR) for undertaking environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study as per provisions of EIA notification 2006.

However, the EAC dropped the project after noting that the area is located in critically polluted areas identified by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and for which the Environment Ministry has issued a circular on moratorium of projects until August.

The CPCB in collaboration with IIT Delhi had surveyed the pollution levels of 88 industrial clusters across the country of which 43 were found to be "critically polluted."

The polluted areas or industrial clusters were given a moratorium till August so that CPCB in consultation with the respective State Pollution Control Boards and the industrial bodies can draw a time-bound action plan for reducing the pollution level in these areas.

Till then no environment clearance will be given to any project proposal in these areas.

PIB Press Release- IMPORTED COAL BASED POWER PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

PIB Press Release

Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Monday, May 03, 2010

IMPORTED COAL BASED POWER PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

In order to bridge the gap between demand and indigenous coal availability, Government has proposed to run some of the thermal power plants in the country by blending imported coal with indigenous coal subject to technical limitations of the boiler design. In addition to this, some power plants have also beenproposed/identified to operate on imported coal.

In addition to Trombay Thermal Power Station (1250 MW) of Tata Power, which has been conceived to operate on imported coal, the Thermal Power Stations (TPS) identified in Maharashtra for blending imported coal are as under:

1. Koradi TPS (Mahagenco) 1040 MW

2. Nasik TPS (Mahagenco) 880 MW

3. Bhusawal TPS (Mahagenco) 475 MW

4. Parli TPS (Mahagenco) 1170 MW

5. Khaperkheda TPS(Mahagenco) 840 MW

6. Dahanu TPS (Reliance Energy Ltd). 500 MW

Apart from this, JSW Energy is setting up a Thermal Power Station with a capacity of 4x300 MW inRatanagiri District of Maharashtra based on imported coal for commissioning during the 11^th Plan.

This information was given by Shri Bharatsinh Solanki, Minister of State for Power in a written reply inRajya Sabha today.

PRA/SKK

Rs 30000 Crs to upgrade 115 power plants

Spark's Power Play: Rs 30000 Crs to upgrade 115 power plants ! ! !
By Spark
Renewable Energy Links - India. Renewables Sites, Rajasthan EDA, Gujarat
EDA, Maharashtra EDA, Indian Wind Power, Wind Power India, INWEA,
Renewables Ministry ... The government has set aside upwards of Rs 30000
crore for the upgrade and maintenance of almost 115 hydro and thermal
power generating units, including some thermal stations commissioned as
early as 1968. About 20 of those thermal units were built before 1980
and had been slated for retirement before local and ...
<http://sparkspower.blogspot.com/2010/04/rs-30000-crs-to-upgrade-115-power.html>

Spark's Power Play

Videocon plans Rs.30000 crore 6000 MW power foray

Videocon plans Rs.30000 crore 6000 MW power foray
Little About
The Videocon group has an ambitious plan to set up four thermal power
generating ... at Asansol in West Bengal and a third one at a location
in Maharashtra. ...
<http://www.littleabout.com/news/92908,videocon-plans-rs30000-crore-6000-mw-power-foray.html>

Videocon plans Rs.30000 crore 6000 MW power foray
Thaindian.com
With its Rs.5000-crore 1200 MW thermal power generating facility coming
up at ... at Asansol in West Bengal and a third one at a location in
Maharashtra. ...
<http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/videocon-plans-rs30000-crore-6000-mw-power-foray_100349945.html>