MoEF grants nod under CRZ Notification to Tata Power's Trombay unit

Company to hike coal handling capacity, install conveyor

The Union environment ministry has accorded clearance under the coastal zone regulations for enhancing the coal handling capacity, installation of a coal conveyor, stackyard and flue-gas desulfurisation disposal at Tata Power’s Trombay plant in northeast Mumbai.

The approval was issued on May 12.



The ministry has laid down 25 conditions to be followed by Tata Power while carrying out the proposed works at the Trombay plant with a generation capacity 1,580 MW.

Tata Power needs to increase coal handling capacity and allied activity as it converts one 500 MW unit at the plant to coal from oil at an investment of Rs 1,174 crore. The company has received approval from the environment ministry and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board for the conversion.

Tata Power imports 2.4 million tonnes of coal for the existing coal-fired units and has planned that the capacity of the Trombay coal terminal be expanded to 4.4 million tonnes.

According to the environment ministry, the company will have to obtain consent from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, the coal stackyard will have double containment on all the sides with a clear driveway between two containments and the boundary fence. The height of the windscreen will be 3 meters above the height of the stack, and water sprinkling will be carried out for settling dust as it is quite close to inhabited areas.

When contacted, Tata Power declined to comment. However, the company today released an advertisement in this regard to comply with the ministry’s approval.

Tata Power will have to provide three layers of green belt on all sides, including the ash pond, and the marine outfall must be through the existing outfall. The ministry has made it clear the company will have to comply with all conditions laid down by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.

This apart, Tata Power will have to put in place continuous online monitoring of the chimney and recorded data on emission will have to be submitted to the pollution board. The company will have to earmark funds for environment protection measures in a separate account.