EAC clears coal plant expansions in UP and Odisha, defers Bihar proposal

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for Thermal Power Projects under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), at its 36th meeting held on January 22, 2026, recommended environmental clearances for capacity expansions at three coal-based power plants in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, subject to detailed environmental conditions. However, it deferred an amendment proposal for a plant in Bihar, citing procedural gaps and unresolved air quality concerns.

The largest project considered was the expansion of the Lalitpur Thermal Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh. The committee recommended Environmental Clearance (EC) for Lalitpur Power Generation Company Ltd. (LPGCL) to add 2400 MW through three 800 MW ultra supercritical units. This expansion will raise the plant’s total capacity from 1980 MW to 4380 MW. The project involves an investment of Rs. 23,230 crore, with Rs. 1,319 crores allocated for environmental protection measures. The EC recommendation is subject to multiple conditions, including public real-time display of emission data and implementation of a wildlife conservation plan.

In Odisha, the committee reviewed an amendment request from Odisha Power Generation Corporation Limited (OPGCL) for the Ib Thermal Power Station expansion. OPGCL proposed shifting the ash pond to Kumarbandh village, around 4 kilometres from the plant, to avoid diversion of forest land notified under the Coal Bearing Act. The company also sought exemption from installing Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) units for the additional 1,320 MW capacity, citing a MoEF&CC notification dated July 11, 2025, which relaxes Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) norms for Category C plants. Other proposed changes include lower water consumption and an increase in chimney height to 275 meters to improve pollutant dispersion.

The EAC also recommended an amendment to the EC for NTPC Limited’s Stage III expansion of the Talcher Thermal Power Project in Odisha. The 2×660 MW project will see its total land requirement revised from 180.22 hectares to 432.49 hectares. This includes land from retired units and a right-of-use corridor for a water pipeline. As a result, the required greenbelt area has increased to 142.72 hectares, with part of it planned on unused ash dyke land. The committee stipulated additional conditions, including submission of a detailed greenbelt development plan and regular groundwater quality monitoring around ash disposal sites, focusing on heavy metal contamination.

The committee deferred consideration of an amendment proposal for NTPC’s 2×195 MW Kanti Thermal Power Plant in Bihar. The proposal aimed to align SO₂ compliance requirements with the July 2025 notification but was found incomplete. The EAC noted the absence of a mandatory EIA or EMP addendum prepared by a NABET-accredited consultant. It also flagged exceedances in ambient air quality data for Particulate Matter (PM), with no clear identification of sources or a defined mitigation plan. In addition, the explanations provided on existing pollution control systems were considered inadequate. The proposal was marked “Deferred for ADS” or Additional Data Submission, pending resolution of all identified issues.

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