Plants function without required approvals

Although Thoothukudi power plant’s units I and II were designed for coal with 19 per cent ash, it actually used coal with 45 per cent ash, which was beyond the plant’s Electro Static Precipitator’s (ESP) handling capacity, resulting in high Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), sulphur di oxide and oxides of nitrogen in ambient air.

Though the North Chennai Thermal Power Station claimed that its chimney emission norms were within norms, TNPCB’s care air centre reported that SPM exceeded norms 46, 917 times in 2014-16. Test checks at 15 minute intervals revealed that Units I, II and III never exceeded 200 mg/Nm3, as the analyser was calibrated to record only up to this level. 

Though MTPS, TTPS and NCTPS applied for renewal of Consent For Operation(CFO) it was granted only to MTPS. Hence TANGEDCO operating the plants without TNPCB approval was against Sec 21 and Sec 25 of the Air act and Water act respectively, making the power major liable for legal action by TNPCB. Similarly, other than TTPS which removed 100% ash, NCPTS and MTPS could remove only 70% ash (8.21 million tonnes), between 2013 and 2016. 

It was also revealed that TANGEDCO’s Environment Management Cell’s (EMC) advice on pollution reduction, including provision of ETPs, lowering chloride content and stopping silo leakage were not complied with by the units which also gave no explanation for not doing so. Ambient Air (AA) tests, which had to be undertaken thrice a week, were followed only once a month it was reported. Further, EMC failed to report to the board about the lack of action by the erring plants.