CAQM Fines Six Thermal Power Plants

The India===Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has imposed environmental compensation totaling approximately ₹61.85 crore on six coal-based thermal power plants located within a 300 km radius of Delhi. The penalties were levied for non-compliance with the Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023, which mandate a 5% blend of biomass pellets or briquettes with coal, with a minimum 3% co-firing threshold for FY 2024-25. The rules aim to promote ex-situ management of crop residue, reduce paddy straw burning, and mitigate air pollution in the National Capital Region. A committee reviewed compliance data and submissions from the plants, concluding that their reasons for non-compliance were insufficient. Vedanta Limited===Talwandi Sabo Power Limited received the highest penalty of ₹33.02 crore. Other penalized plants include Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited===Panipat Thermal Power Station, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited===Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited===Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Plant, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited===Guru Hargobind Thermal Power Plant, and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited===Harduaganj Thermal Power Station. The plants have been directed to deposit the compensation by April 15.