Adani Power gets EAC nod for 3,200 MW coal plant near Brahmaputra in Assam

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for Thermal Projects under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has recommended the grant of Environmental Clearance (EC) for Adani Power Limited’s (APL) proposed 3,200 MW coal-based thermal power plant in Assam.

The recommendation was made during the EAC’s 46th meeting held on June 18, 2026. The meeting minutes were approved by EAC Chairman Shri Inder Pal Singh Matharu (I.F.S. Retd.) on June 24, 2026. The project will require final environmental clearance from the Ministry after submission of the required documents on the PARIVESH portal.

Project details

The greenfield ultra super critical thermal power project will comprise four units of 800 MW each and will be developed across the villages of Charuabakhra, Chirakuta I & II and Santoshpur in Chapar Revenue Circle of Dhubri district, Assam.

The project will be developed on 585 hectares of land, including 466.3 hectares of government land and 118.7 hectares of private land allotted by Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL). According to the project proponent, the site has no habitation and therefore does not involve any Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) issues.

Environmental safeguards

The project site is located about 5 km from Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary and 2.02 km from its Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). Although no forest land is involved, several Reserve Forests, including Dudhnath Reserve Forest and Tokrabandha Reserve Forest, fall within the 10 km study area.

The plant will require 1,53,600 m³/day (56 MCM) of water, which will be sourced from the Brahmaputra River. Permission for water withdrawal has been obtained from the Water Resources Department, Guwahati. The EAC has directed the project developer to maintain the flow and biodiversity of the adjacent Mar Gaurang Nala.

The committee has also stipulated the installation of electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) with 99.98% efficiency, a 275-metre stack and a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system to minimise environmental impacts.

Coal and ash management

The thermal power plant will require around 13.27 MTPA of coal, which will be sourced from commercial coal mines, including Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and North Eastern Coalfields (NECL), under the SHAKTI Policy and through e-auctions.

The EAC has directed that 100% of coal transportation be carried out by rail, with no road transportation permitted. A dedicated railway siding will be developed from Bilasipara Railway Station.

The project is expected to generate 5.31 MTPA of ash. Adani Power has proposed 100% ash utilisation for cement manufacturing, brick production and road embankment works. A 70-hectare high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-lined ash pond will also be developed.

Additional measures

The company has proposed a 2 MW solar power plant within or near the project site. The EAC has also directed the developer to assess the project’s carbon footprint and prepare a carbon sequestration plan.

A budget of Rs 40.5 crore has been earmarked for Socio-Economic/Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) activities covering education, healthcare, livelihood development and infrastructure in nearby villages. The plan was prepared following the public hearing held on April 23, 2026, which was attended by around 1,150 people.

The committee has further mandated development of a greenbelt covering 33% of the project area (193 hectares), implementation of the approved wildlife conservation plan, a site-specific seismic study within six months due to the project’s location in Earthquake Zone V, an effective public grievance redressal mechanism and annual water audits.

The EAC concluded that the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) comply with the prescribed Terms of Reference (ToR) and recommended the proposal for environmental clearance, subject to the stipulated conditions.

The project forms part of Adani Group’s proposed investment of around Rs 63,000 crore in Assam, announced in November 2025. Besides the 3,200 MW thermal power project, the group has also proposed two pumped storage projects with a combined capacity of 2,700 MW in the state. 

The featured photograph is for representation only.