Coal news and updates

HC asks TPCB to study green impact of coal plant

A division bench of the high court has directed Telangana Pollution Control Board (TPCB) to study the environmental impact of the establishment of a coal-based power plant in the tribal villages of Nalgonda district.

The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by one Meghavath Sali and three others of Nalgonda district, who are against the power project in their villages. The petitioners urged the court to stay the public notice issued by authorities for conducting a public hearing at Pedaveedu gram panchayat office, Matampally mandal, Nalgonda district, for establishment of a 200 mega watts coal-based power plant by MG Power Project Limited.

On two occasions, villagers have opposed to surrender their land for the proposed power project at the public hearings held on December 31, 2013 and September 10, 2014. In spite of that, another notice was issued for conducting a public hearing at Pedaveedu gram panchayat, which is five kilometres from the proposed project site.

The petitioners said that the villages of Gurrambodu, Krishna, Thummala, Mancha, Avarenikunta, Anthya, Sulthanpuram and surrounding Thandas will be adversely affected due to pollution post setting up of the power plant. The power project company is pressuring the district authorities to forcibly evict villagers in the name of project construction, they alleged.

Source: The Times of India