Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding fire breaking out at NTPC's superthermal power plant in Jharkhand, 01/05/2024
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item titled "Massive fire breaks out at NTPC’s Superthermal power plant in Jharkhand" appearing in the Business Standard dated 19.04.2024 dated 01/05/2024.
The original application was registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled "Massive fire breaks out at NTPC’s Superthermal power plant in Jharkhand" appearing in the ‘Business Standard’ dated April 19, 2024.
The news item related to the eruption of a major fire at NTPC’s North Karanpura Superthermal Power Plant in Jharkhand’s Chatra District. As per the article, fire broke out at BHEL material yard of unit 3 in the power plant. As per the report, the installation is a 660X3 MW coal-based power plant and till the reporting, no casualties were found.
The counsel's representing the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) were not able to inform the court in respect of the figure of casualty, if any, in the incident. Counsel for JSPCB also could not inform about the compliance of the environmental norms by the unit.
The OA (original application) raised substantial issues relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of Scheduled enactment and directed notices to be issued to the concerned authorities. The next hearing of the case will be before the Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata on July 5, 2024.