EAC defers NALCO’s Rs 11,313 crore Angul power plant expansion

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Environment has deferred the proposal of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) to expand its Captive Power Plant in Angul, Odisha. At its meeting on April 8, the committee declined to grant Terms of Reference (ToR), the initial stage of environmental clearance.

The proposed project involves adding four units of 270 MW each to the existing 1,200 MW facility in Banarpal Block, increasing total capacity to 2,280 MW. The expansion, estimated at Rs 11,313 crore, is intended to support the company’s aluminium smelting operations.

The EAC raised concerns over multiple aspects of the proposal. It flagged the plan to clear 94.78 hectares of established greenbelt within the plant site, with compensatory plantation proposed at a closed ash pond located about 1.6 km away. The committee has sought a policy-level view on whether such relocation complies with greenbelt norms, particularly in light of an order issued in October 2025.

The panel also noted that a proposed ash dyke would be located around 100 metres from the Nandira River. It has asked the company to submit a detailed water quality monitoring and mitigation plan.

In addition, discrepancies were identified in the project’s digital mapping. The EAC observed that a portion of Protected Forest appears to fall within the project boundary based on the government’s Decision Support System. NALCO has been directed to validate and resubmit its KML file.

The proximity of nearby habitations, including Gotmara, Amantapur, Kulad, and Bonda, located within 60 metres of the site, was another concern. The committee has requested a detailed plan to address potential impacts on these communities.

The EAC also questioned the proposed ash-water ratio of 1:9 for slurry disposal and asked the company to explore options to reduce water usage.

NALCO has been asked to submit a revised proposal addressing all observations and to examine the feasibility of an alternative site that avoids clearing the existing greenbelt. The project remains pending until further review.

The featured photograph is for representation only.