Aluminium, power projects face NEERI hurdle

The interim report of the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), entrusted with the task of preparing a Regional Environment Management Plan (REMP) based on the ecological carrying capacity of the Sambalpur-Jharsuda region, has come as a hurdle for twelve aluminium and power projects in the area.

Though the report has permitted the Orissa government to go ahead with the projects for which environmental clearances have been obtained from the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), it has suggested the government to halt the expansion plans of the existing projects and disallow setting up of new projects which are yet to obtain the ministry’s clearance.

Stating that the recommendation for individual projects would be made in the final report, the interim report stated that new projects could be considered if the monitored data collected through institutional mechanism shows improvement in environmental quality and reduction in pollution load through preventive technology.

The primary meteorological data would also be utilised for proper delineation of ventilation co-efficient with respect to dilution potential of pollutants in this region, sources said.

The new aluminium projects facing NEERI hurdle are 5 lakh tonne per annum (LTPA) aluminium smelter proposed by the state owned National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco) at Brajarajnagar and 4.4 lakh tonne per annum smelter proposed by Larsen &Tubro (L&T) at Jharsuguda.

Both these units have not obtained the ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and environmental clearance from the MoEF. Similarly, ten other power projects have been pushed into uncertainty in this area.

The 1320 Mw Ib Thermal Power Station (proposed 3 and 4 units) and 1080 Mw Captive Power Plant (CPP) of L&T’s aluminium project at Bhadrapalli in Sambalpur district are yet get the clearances from the Union environment ministry.

Nalco, which proposed to set up a 1260 Mw CPP along with its 5 lakh tpa smelter at Jharsuguda, would have to wait till the submission of the final report of NEERI. Kalinga Energy and Power’s proposed 1000 Mw IPP at Babuchakuli and Action Ispat and Power’s 600 Mw IPP at Jahrasuguda are yet to obtain the environmental clearances.

The 1000 Mw IPP proposed by Mega Power Builders at Babuchakuli near Rengali and the 2000 mw IPP proposed by Neyvalli Lignite Ltd near Rengali also faces delay on account of the carrying capacity study.

Sources said, three more units namely Ravi Metalliks’ 15 Mw CPP, Bramha Iron and Power’s 50 Mw CPP at Khinda in Sambalpur and Reliance Energy’s 4000 Mw IPP would have to wait till the final report of NEERI is submitted to the Orissa State Pollution Control Board. Out of these three projects, only Ravi Metalliks has applied to the OSPCB for issue of NOC.