Categorization of Thermal Power Plants
To,
The Chairman State Pollution Control Board(s)
Sub:- Directions under Section 18(1)(b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for categorization of thermal power plants as per Notification No. G.S.R. 243(E)
Dated 31.03.2021.
WHEREAS, amongst others, under Section 17 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981- one of the functions of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs), constituted under The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 is to plan a comprehensive program for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in the State/U.T. and to secure the execution thereof; and
WHEREAS, SPCBs/PCCs pursue with the air polluting industries/ sectors to take necessary steps to control air pollution and to comply with the standards, as notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Rules framed there under; and
WHEREAS, Central Government issued the notification No. S.O. 3305(E) dated 07.12.2015 to stipulate revised emission standards for coal and lignite based thermal power plants and further issued the amendment notification No. G.S.R. 243(E) dated 31.03.2021 to extend/prescribe different time limits for complying these revised standards, based on location of plants; and
WHEREAS, a Task Force has been constituted under Member Secretary, CPCB for categorization of thermal power plants as per amendment notification no. G.S.R. 243(E) dated 31.03.2021 by letter no. B-33014/7/2021/IPC-II/TPP/ dated 08.04.2021 (as amended by letter dated 16.04.2021); and
WHEREAS, the Task Force for categorization of thermal power plants in its meeting dated 18.05.2021 decided that the categorization exercise for Captive Power Plants (CPPs) will be done by the concerned SPCBs/PCCs in consultation with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The Minutes of the Meeting were circulated to SPCBs/PCCs on 21.05.2021 for necessary action (followed by a letter dated 01.07.2021 to inform the CPAs to be considered for the categorisation); and
WHEREAS, a reminder letter was sent to SPCBs/PCCs on 22.07.2021 requesting to provide the categorization report of CPPs by 31.07.2021 positively, but the report is still awaited.
NOW, THEREFORE, in view of the above and in exercise of the powers under Section 18(1)(b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, you are hereby directed to provide the report on categorization of CPPs in your state as per amendment notification no. G.S.R. 243(E) dated 31.03.2021 to Member Secretary-CPCB /Chairman-Task Force by 25.08.2021.
Naresh Pal Gangwar
Chairman
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