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CHENNAI: The Union environment ministry has given clearance for the expansion of Ennore thermal project near Chennai. The ministry had given nod for the project with a capacity of 660MW in 2009, but Tangedco could not complete the project, and in 2014, the ministry extended the clearance for another five years ending in 2019.
Earlier this year, the ministry refused to extend the clearance as only 17% of the work had been completed and wanted Tangedco to apply once again for clearance. The discom complied and applied for clearance.
The foundation for the project was laid by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa after the project was given to LANCO.
But the company went bankrupt a few years ago and the tender was allocated to BGRESL.
On Wednesday (December 11), the ministry granted the clearance and said the project has to be completed within five years. The project is coming up at the same place where five thermal units of 110MW and 60MW, with a total capacity of 450MW, functioned. The units were decommissioned a few years ago.
“The project is coming up at the ETPS complex which has 237 acres of land. Of this, 86 acres will be used to set up a unit with a capacity of 660MW. The project will use the existing ash pond situated on 113.6 acres of land for disposing of ash. Including the pond, the new project will use 197.6 acres,” said a senior Tangedco official.
Total coal requirement for the project is 2 million tonnes and the discom has signed an MoU with MMTC for the supply.
Coal will be brought to Ennore port from mines in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and transported through conveyors. “There is no separate external coal-handling system for the project. Crushed coal from North Chennai Thermal Power Station stockyard will be transported to the ETPS through pipe conveyors,’’ said the official.
“The Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority has recommended CRZ clearance to set up of pipe conveyors from North Chennai Power Plant to the project site. The daily water requirement for the project will be met from the sea. Water will undergo RO treatment before it is put to use,” the official said. A seawater intake pipeline of 3.15km and discharge pipeline of 1.55km will be laid to meet the water requirement of the plant, the official said.
In its clearance, the ministry said noise levels studied in the area were as per the pollution rules. “The ministry has exempted Tangedco from holding a public hearing and TNPCB has told the ministry that it did not receive any comments based on the environment impact assessment report on the project on its website,” said the official. |
