The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed Essar Power to comply with its directions on removal and storage of fly ash at its Mahan coal-based power plant or face immediate shutdown.
The Mahan power project at Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh represents a $1.2-billion investment by Essar Power and is the company?s third coal-fired power project to start commercial operations in 2012.
Responding to a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Ashwani Kumar Dubey, NGT on Thursday ordered that ?all the fly ash from the agricultural fields and nearby villages shall be removed without further delay by Essar Power. The company shall also ensure proper storage of fly ash with covering of polythene and other measures so as to prevent the spreading of fly ash polluting the area. If these works are not carried out immediately and the condition imposed is not complied with, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall stop the operation of the industry?.
This is the second time in this week that Essar Power faced NGT ire. On Wednesday, the tribunal sought a reply from Mahan Coal, a subsidiary of Essar Power, and Hindalco on a plea contending that a recent order approving diversion of 967 hectares of forest land in Madhya Pradesh is in violation of forest and environment laws. NGT also directed that any further orders in respect of the coal block would be subject to the outcome of the case pending before it.
