MPCB to soon forward minutes of public hearing on Tata Power project to MoEF

Company will have to submit final EIA report to seek green nod

Tata Power Company has crossed a crucial milestone as the Mumbai suburban district collector’s representative and the additional district magistrate has forwarded to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) minutes of public hearing on its proposal to convert existing 500 MW gas based unit to coal based one at its Trombay plant in north east Mumbai. The conversion entails investment of Rs 1,174 crore.  MPCB  would soon forward these minutes to the union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) and state environment department for providing environment clearance.

Public hearing was mandatory as per the procedure laid down in Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2006. Political parties, individuals and non government organizations had raised several objections against Tata Power Company’s move while the latter had clarified that enough measures are being taken to protect environment to provide uninterrupted power at competitive tariff.

MPCB official told Business Standard “Minutes of presentations made by individuals, organizations, representatives of political parties and Tata Power Company have been received this week from the Mumbai suburban district collector’s office. These minutes along with the audio and video tapes are being forwarded to MoEF and state environment department. Tata Power Company, which has submitted a draft environment impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed conversion cum modernization of its 500 MW unit at its Trombay plant, will have to submit a final EIA report after taking into consideration all objections and suggestions made during the public hearing which took place on January 15.”

Tata Power Company spokesman said “Tata Power’s proposed modernisation of Unit 6 at its Trombay Power plant will help in providing cheaper, reliable and uninterrupted power supply to Mumbai customers. The Company has proposed the deployment of state-of-the-art environment protection equipment at the plant to ensure emissions at the plant are controlled well within the prescribed permissible limits. Tata Power is committed to the process of transparent public consultation. Further to the public hearing held, the Company  now awaits guidance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF).”

The official said that Mumbai suburban district collector’s office and MPCB had limited role to carry out public hearing and it is now up to the state environment department and MoEF to grant environment clearance. He added that minutes did mention the chaos due to slogan shouting that prevailed during public hearing and how the additional district magistrate had to close the public hearing "looking at the complexity of the situation."