The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for Thermal Power Projects has recommended environmental clearance for two major thermal power expansion projects in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, involving a combined investment of more than Rs 29,000 crore and adding 2,920 MW of generation capacity through ultra-supercritical technology.
In Chhattisgarh, the committee cleared a proposal by Korba Power Limited to expand its thermal power plant capacity from 1,920 MW to 3,520 MW by adding two 800 MW ultra-supercritical units. The project involves an estimated investment of Rs 16,611 crore.
As part of the approval conditions, the EAC directed the company to ensure 100% ash utilisation, develop a greenbelt around the ash pond perimeter, and install a 275-metre stack. Water for the project will be sourced from the Hasdeo River, while coal will be transported by rail from mines operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL).
The committee also recommended environmental clearance for Odisha Power Generation Corporation Limited (OPGCL) to expand its Banaharpalli thermal power station in Jharsuguda district from 1,740 MW to 3,060 MW. The project includes the installation of two 660 MW ultra-supercritical units at an estimated cost of Rs 12,717 crore.
For the Odisha project, the EAC directed OPGCL to remove approximately 144 lakh tonnes of legacy ash from its Stage-I ash ponds within five years, significantly reducing the timeline proposed by the company. It also mandated the installation of a 60 MW solar plant and the development of a dense greenbelt along the adjacent Hirakud Reservoir, a designated Ramsar site.
Additionally, OPGCL has been instructed to comply with pending orders issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Odisha Human Rights Commission related to the ash pond breach reported in December 2023.