Directorate of Information & Publicity 
DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION & PUBLICITY
GOVERNMENT OF DELHI
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Dated : 03/02/2017
- Delhi govt extends closure of Badarpur Thermal Power Plant till further orders
Delhi government on Friday extended the closure of Badarpur Thermal Power Plant till further orders, keeping in view the existing air quality in the national capital.
The decision was taken in a meeting of the Environment Department chaired by the Environment Minister Mr Imran Hussain and attended by senior officials of the Department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
There are five units ( 3 X 95MW and 2 X 210MW) in Badarpur Thermal Power Plant. Out of these five units, the DPCC had allowed the operation of only two units of 210 MW each subject to meeting with the prescribed standard of Particulate Matter i.e. 50 mg/Nm3(called Normal metre cube). 03 units(3 X 95MW) which were not capable to meet the stringent standards of 50mg/Nm3 were not allowed to operate and were shut down. In fact, out of the five units, only one unit of 210 MW was operating in November, 2016.
In view of the severe ambient air pollution levels in Delhi in October- November, 2016, following directions were issued to Badarpur Thermal Power Plant u/s 31 (A) of Air (Pollution and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 read with Rule 20A(6) of the Air (Pollution and Control of Pollution) (Union Territories) Rules, Act 1983 :
1) Closure of all the units with immediate effect from 07.11.2016 to 16.11.2016
2) No lifting fly ash from fly ash storage area, for any purpose, from 07.11.2016 to 16.11.2016, and
3) Ensuring regular sprinkling of water in fly ash storage area.
The period of closure was extended till 31.01.2017 vide directions dated 16.11.2016, as the same levels of ambient air pollution levels were expected to continue in Delhi.
The Graded Response Action Plan for tackling air pollution, prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in consultation with the Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) and Delhi government, which was subsequently submitted in the Hon’ble Supreme Court, was discussed and on the basis of EPCA directions to Delhi Government, directions have been issued by the DPCC to the Badarpur Thermal Power Plant for closure till further orders.
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