NEW DELHI: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the NCR and adjoining areas has issued Show Cause Notices to six coal-based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) located within a 300 km radius of Delhi.

These notices were issued due to non-compliance with the mandatory provisions regarding the co-firing of pellets or briquettes made from crop residue, as specified under the Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023.

The affected power plants include two in Punjab, three in Haryana, and one in Uttar Pradesh.

The plants in Punjab are Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL – Vedanta) in Mansa and PSPCL – Guru Hargobind Thermal Power Plant in Lehra Mohabbat.

In Haryana, the plants are Panipat Thermal Power Station (PTPS) in Panipat, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Station (DCRTPS) in Yamunanagar, and Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Plant (RGTPP) in Hisar.

The plant in Uttar Pradesh is Harduaganj Thermal Power Station, operated by UPRVUNL.

This action follows a detailed review of compliance for FY 2024-25, based on data provided by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

The rules require all coal-based TPPs to utilize a minimum of 5% biomass pellets or briquettes made from crop residue along with coal, with a minimum threshold of over 3% co-firing prescribed for FY 2024-25 to avoid penalties in the form of Environmental Compensation (EC).