Coal news and updates

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notices to Central and Maharashtra governments for flouting its order on clean coal norm. A division bench of Justice Jawad Rahim (judicial member) and Dr Ajay Deshpande (expert member), asked the respondents on why consent granted to them to operate coal and power utilities violating mandatory provisions be not revoked. The tribunal's Pune-based Western Zone bench further directed respondents to reply by July 13.

Other respondents receiving notices, included State Energy and Environment Departments, Union Coal and Power Ministries, Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Mahagenco, CPCB, MPCB, Coal India Limited and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL). The stern directives came while hearing an application by Koradi resident Ratnadeep Rangari who alleged blatant violation of MOEFCC norms for prohibiting use of coal having more than 34% ashcontent by the coal and power utilities.

Expressing disappointment over non-compliance of its October 15 order by which supply and use of clean coal below 34% ash content was made mandatory for coal and power companies, the tribunal bench warned the ministry that it wouldn't be granted further time. MOEFCC is expected to issue a notification to reduce pollution in coal bearing and power generating regions.

On October 15, the NGT directed these companies to strictly comply with the norms and asked MOEFCC to modernize its infrastructure and conduct monthly inspection and sampling. It asked respondents, including MoEFCC, CPCB and MPCB to improve their scientific manpower and capability to undertake sampling and analysis, while making it clear that without capability to effectively enforce the norm, mere notification would not serve any purpose.

In same order, NGT had directed pollution control board to include in its consent, conditions laid down by MoEFCC, which banned coal and power companies from using coal having more than 34% ash content as it posed danger to environment and public health. The bench further told them to install automatic real-time online monitoring system to weed out inferior quality coal. The pollution control board were asked to take monthly samples for coal ash content and ensure the compliance of notification. NGT had laid down strict timelines to be followed by the coal companies and power generating companies to comply.

Rangari through counsel Arpit Ratan charged respondents with gross and wilful disobedience of NGT order. He contended that information collected under RTI revealed inferior quality of coal was still being used ignoring NGT order. He argued that usage of substandard coal was adversely affecting health of residents living near Koradi and Khaparkheda thermal power plants.

Citing data of Primary Health Centre at Chicholi (Khaparkheda) for last year, the petitioner pointed out that 6,531 patients were found to be suffering from diseases like tuberculosis , skin and upper respiratory tract infection (URI) caused due to pollution.

 

Source:TOI