Report to the National Green Tribunal by NTPC, Sipat 30/05/2020
NTPC 3x660 MW (stage-I) Sipat Super Thermal Power Project in Village Sipat, Tehsil Masturi at district Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh report in compliance of National Green Tribunal order of February 27, 2020 in the matter of Rashmi Singh Vs NTPC Ltd. & Others.
The applicant had filed an affidavit before NGT in reference to the status report submitted by the Regional MoEF&CC Nagpur dated June 20, 2019 and alleged that there was non-compliance of the EC conditions by the thermal power plant.
The EC of Stage-I (3x660 MW) issued on February 22, 1999 specifies for transportation of coal in closed wagon. NTPC Sipat had taken up this issue with MoEF&CC citing the constraints in transportation of coal in closed wagons. Accordingly, EAC (Thermal Power) had considered the submissions made by NTPC Sipat. “In accordance with the recommendations made by EAC, the MoEF&CC has accorded permission for waving the condition of transportation of coal with tarpaulin covered wagon vide its EC amendment letter dated 09-10-2019 subject to certain conditions,” the report said.
NTPC Sipat was abiding by the conditions mentioned in the amendment letter i.e. water sprinkling at loading point, unloading point, midpoint and ½ km before entry point – these conditions were being adhered regularly and thus was in total compliance with the amended EC condition.
The total land acquired for the project was 4382.44 acres and all the three ash dykes are well managed and there has been no leakage from any of the ash dyke. Decanted water from ash pond was collected in overflow lagoon wherefrom water was pumped back into plant and reused in ash slurry process.
The report by NTPC Sipat added that over the years, ash utilization percentage of the thermal power plant had improved from 18.63% in 2017-18 to 49.54% in 2018-19 and it was expected that by 2022 there would be 100% ash utilization as per action plan submitted to CECB.
Further, the thermal power plant had been supplying ash to cement industries, ash based industries, NHAI Bilaspur – Patharapali highway projects, land reclamation and also in ash dyke embankment as a substitute for sand and earth.
A study on the impact of the NTPC, Sipat on forests and crops was done by TCB College of Agriculture, Bilaspur. During study, three season samples had been collected and analysed, which showed that there was no adverse impact on the environment, according to the report.
Note: Report uploaded to the NGT site on June 3, 2020