DC holds public hearing to set up new 800 MW unit at Yamunanagar thermal plant

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Yamunanagar, July 6

Deputy Commissioner Captain Manoj Kumar on Friday held a public hearing regarding the setting up of a new 800 MW ultra supercritical unit at Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant (DCRTPP) in Pansara village of Yamunanagar.

The hearing was joined by officials of several departments, including the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), and people living in the villages situated near the plant.

As per available information, the HSPCB had fixed July 5 for the hearing for the expansion of the existing 600 MW coal-based thermal unit by establishing a new 800 MW ultra supercritical unit at DCRTPP.

Virender Singh Punia, Regional Officer, HSPCB, Yamunanagar, said the people of neighbouring villages had raised their objections, and put forth their suggestions and demands in the hearing.

“With the consultation of DC Kumar, a report of the hearing shall be prepared and sent to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through the higher authorities of the HSPCB,” said RO Punia. He said the hearing was a part of the process to get the environmental clearance as per the notification of Environmental Impact Assessment, 2006.

According to information, the land of 15 villages — Rattanpura, Kaimpura, Isharpur, Darwa, Lapra, Mehmudpur, Mandoli, Dussani, Pansara, Mandi, Fatehpur, Kalanaur, Rampur Majra, Behrampur and Naya Gaon — had been acquired some years ago for the plant.

The first unit of this thermal plant was commissioned in April, 2008. The public hearing was earlier supposed to be held on the premises of DCRTPP on April 2, 2024, but it was postponed due to the announcement of Lok Sabha elections. This ultra supercritical unit will be set up by Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited.