Chennai/Hyderabad: The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal on Friday refused to modify the stay order on the proposed Rs 6,800 crore 4x270 Bhadradri Thermal Power Plant at Manuguru in Khammam district.
The Bench, comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member R. Nagendran, dismissed the plea for relief sought by counsel for TS and the TS Power Generation Corporation.
“The law is clear. There can’t be any construction without obtaining prior environmental clearance. Photographic evidence shows that TSGenco has completed the basement work without holding a public hearing,” the Bench said.
TSGenco counsels Y. Rama Rao and Priya Iyengar told the Bench that the project proponent was ready to pay costs imposed for violating the norms and requested the court not to pass adverse orders.
Petitioner Human Rights Forum asked the tribunal to direct TSGenco to demolish the constructions as the project was in violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, and the Environmental Impact Assessment notification, which is a sub-legislation of the Environmental Protection Act. The tribunal, however, turned it down in view of public interest and taxpayers’ money.
The Bench directed TSGenco to conduct the public hearing scheduled for March 17 as per norms and then obtain the EC before which no further construction would be allowed.
TSGenco informed the tribunal that the Centre had agreed for supercritical technology at the power plant instead of sub-critical technology as originally planned, for environmental reasons and better efficiency.
Following the hearing, TSGenco CMD D. Prabhakar Rao said it was a major relief that the Bench did not order demolition of the constructions. “Our intention was not to violate the rules. It is because of the urgency to complete the project by April 2017 that works were taken up,” he said.
