NGT Issues Notice to Thermal Power Plant in Jharkhand

• 03 May 2024

Why in News?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested a reply from the concerned authorities, which includes the administrative chief of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) North Karanpura super thermal power plant in Jharkhand's Chatra district, concerning the significant fire that consumed a unit in April 2024.

Key Points

• The NGT addressed a case where it had taken notice about a fire at a material yard in unit 3 of a power plant.
  • The plant, a coal-based 660X3 MW unit of NTPC, the country's largest power producer, was under scrutiny.
  • NGT considered the case a significant matter concerning environmental regulation compliance.
• The tribunal roped in various authorities like the plant's administrative head, member secretaries of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB), as well as Chatra's deputy commissioner for the issue.
• The tribunal directed for specific parties like the plant's administrative head and the deputy commissioner to be served notices to respond to the matter.

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• It is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
• With the establishment of the NGT, India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so.
• NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing the same.
• The NGT has five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four.

National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)

• NTPC is India’s largest power utility with an installed capacity of 68,961.68 MW plans to become a 130 GW company by 2032.
• Established in 1975, NTPC aims to be the world’s largest and best power major.
• NTPC has comprehensive Rehabilitation & Resettlement and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies well integrated with its core business of setting up power projects and generating electricity.
• The company is committed to generating reliable power at competitive prices in a sustainable manner by optimising the use of multiple energy sources with innovative eco-friendly technologies thereby NTPC is contributing to the economic development of the nation and upliftment of the society.