BY SPEED POST

 

J 13012/137/2010-IA.II (T)

Government of India

Ministry of Environment & Forests                                                             

 

Ph: 011-2436 3973

Paryavaran Bhawan

CGO Complex, Lodi Road

New Delhi-110 003

Dated:  17th April, 2012 

To

 

M/s Arkay Energy (Rameswaram) Ltd.

GF 1A Prince Villa, 15 Rajamannar Salai,

T- Nagar, Chennai-600 017,

 Tamil Nadu

 

Sub:  Expansion by addition of 10x 8.73 MW Gas Engines + 6.0 MW HRSG Gas Engine Based Power Plant to enhance the capacity from 94.8 MW to 188.1 MW at village Valuthur, in Ramanathapuram Taluk, in Ramanathapuram Distt., in Tamil Nadu - reg.  Environmental Clearance.

Sir,

         

The undersigned is directed to refer to your letters dated 19.10.2011 and 19.11.2011 on the subject mentioned above. The Ministry of Environment & Forests has examined the application. 

 

2.       The proposal is for expansion by addition of 10x8.73 MW Gas Engine + 6.0 MW HRSG Based Power Plant at village Valuthur, in Ramanathapuram Taluk, in Ramanathapuram Distt., in Tamil Nadu. The existing plant comprises of 10x8.73 MW Gas Engines + 7.5 MW HRSG. Environmental clearance for existing 94.8 MW was accorded on 31.12.2007. Land requirement will be 13 acres for the existing and expansion project. Expansion will be carried in the existing plant premises. The co-ordinates of the site are at Latitude 21052’57” N to 22003’32”N and Longitude 83049’29” E to 83057’31”E. Natural gas requirement will be 9.0 lakhs SCMD. Water requirement will be 20 KLD and will be provided by M/s South Ganga Water Technologies Pvt. Ltd from its existing Desalination Plant. Air Cooled Condenser for main condensate cooling and radiator cooling for gas engine shall be installed. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is located at a distance of 11.0 km from the project site. Public Hearing was held on 04.07.2011. Cost of the project will be Rs. 275.00 Crores.

 

3.           The project has been considered in accordance with the provisions of the EIA notification issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests vide S.O. 1533 (E), dated September 14, 2006.

 

4.           Based on the information submitted by you, as at Para 2 above and others and presentation made before the Expert Appraisal Committee (Thermal Power) in its 36th Meeting held during November 14-15, 2011, by you and your consultant viz. M/s Amba Recycler Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, the Ministry of Environment and Forests hereby accords environmental clearance to the above project under the provisions of EIA notification dated September 14, 2006, subject to the compliance of the following Specific and General conditions:

 

A.           Specific Conditions:

 

i)             The project proponent shall initiate a long term study through a reputed institution to assess the cumulative impact of the power plants on the AAQ of the area. The study shall in particular assess the impact of gas emission on the chemistry of upper troposphere and stratosphere and the impact on radiation budget. It shall be ensured that the study takes into account the worst seasonal atmospheric conditions.

 

ii)           Mass Spectrometer based Helium detector to detect the gas leakage shall be installed.

 

iii)          Concentration for photochemical oxidants shall be monitored along with NOx and permanent monitoring stations shall be installed at appropriate location in consultation with the Central / State pollution Control Board. Nox emission from each of gas turbine shall not exceed 50 ppm

 

iv)          COC of 5.0 shall be adopted.

 

v)            Waste water generated from the plant shall be treated before discharge to comply limits prescribed by the SPCB. The treated waste water shall be recycled to the extent possible.

 

vi)          Additional soil for leveling of the sites should be generated within the site in a way that natural drainage system of the area is protected and improved.

 

vii)         No ground water shall be extracted for the project work at any stage.

 

viii)       The treated effluent conforming to the prescribed standards only shall be reused to the extent possible and excess discharged. Arrangements shall be made that effluents and storm water do not get mixed.

 

ix)          A sewage treatment plant shall be provided (as applicable) and the treated sewage shall be used for raising greenbelt/plantation. Continuous monitoring of effluent discharge shall be undertaken and it shall be ensured that when discharge enters the natural drain the temperature of effluent shall be at ambient.

 

x)            Monitoring of ground and surface water quality (if any nearby) shall be regularly conducted and records maintained. The monitored data shall be submitted to the Ministry regularly. Further, monitoring points shall be located between the plant and drainage in the direction of flow of ground water and records maintained. Monitoring for heavy metals in ground water shall be undertaken.

 

xi)          A well designed rain water harvesting system shall be put in place which shall comprise of rain water collection from the built up and open area in the plant premises.

 

xii)        Well designed acoustic enclosures for the DG sets and noise emitting equipments to achieve the desirable insertion loss viz. 25 dB(A) should be provided.

 

xiii)       Adequate safety measures shall be provided in the plant area to check/minimize spontaneous fires especially during summer season. Copy of these measures with full details along with location plant layout shall be submitted to the Ministry as well as to the Regional Office of the Ministry.

 

xiv)       The project proponent shall ensure that all possible hazards due to the power plant are contained within the plant premises. Structural design of the plant shall take into consideration the seismicity aspects.

 

xv)         Noise levels emanating from turbines shall be so controlled such that the noise in the work zone shall be limited to 75 dB(A) at 1m from the source of noise. For people working in the high noise area, requisite personal protective equipment like earplugs/ear muffs etc. shall be provided. Workers engaged in noisy areas such as turbine area, air compressors etc shall be periodically examined to maintain audiometric record and for treatment for any hearing loss including shifting to non noisy/less noisy areas.

 

xvi)       The project proponent shall erect noise barriers (having insertion loss potential of atleast 5.0 dBA) all around the side facing human habitations and shall ensure that noise level (Leq) at the boundary of the plant premises does not exceed 65 dBA.

 

xvii)      Stacks of 30 m shall be provided with continuous online monitoring equipments.  Exit velocity of flue gases shall not be less than 22 m/sec.

 

xviii)    An amount of Rs 1.10 Crores shall be earmarked as one time capital cost for CSR programme. Subsequently a recurring expenditure of Rs 0.22 Crores per annum till the life of the plant shall be earmarked as recurring expenditure for CSR activities. Details of the activities to be undertaken shall be submitted to the regional Office of the Ministry along with road map for implementation.

 

xix)       CSR schemes shall be identified based on need based assessment in and around the villages within 5 km of the site and in constant consultation with the village Panchayat and the District Administration. As part of CSR prior identification of local employable youth and eventual employment in the project after imparting relevant training and retraining if necessary, shall also be undertaken.

 

xx)         It shall be ensured that in-built monitoring mechanism for the schemes identified is in place and annual social audit shall be got done from the nearest government institute of repute in the region. The project proponent shall also submit the status of implementation of the scheme from time to time.

 

xxi)       Green Belt around the plant with adequate tree density not less than 2500 per ha and survival rate not less than 80 % shall be developed. The green belt developed shall not be less than 33% of the total area.

 

xxii)     The Company shall submit within three months their policy towards Corporate Environment Responsibility which should inter-alia address (i) Standard operating process/ procedure to being into focus any infringement/deviation/violation of environmental or forest norms/conditions, (ii) Hierarchical system or Administrative order of the Company to deal with environmental issues and ensuring compliance to the environmental clearance conditions and (iii) System of reporting of non compliance/violation environmental norms to the Board of Directors of the company and/or stakeholders or shareholders.

 

B.      General Conditions:

 

i)             Storage facilities for auxiliary liquid fuel such as LDO and/ HFO/LSHS (if any) shall be made in the plant area in consultation with Department of Explosives, Nagpur. Sulphur content in the liquid fuel will not exceed 0.5%. Disaster Management Plan shall be prepared to meet any eventuality in case of an accident taking place due to storage of oil.

 

ii)           First Aid and sanitation arrangements shall be made for the drivers and other contract workers during construction phase.

 

iii)          Provision shall be made for the housing of construction labour within the site with all necessary infrastructure and facilities such as fuel for cooking, mobile toilets, mobile STP, safe drinking water, medical health care, crèche etc.  The housing may be in the form of temporary structures to be removed after the completion of the project.

 

iv)          The project proponent shall advertise in at least two local newspapers widely circulated in the region around the project, one of which shall be in the vernacular language of the locality concerned within seven days from the date of this clearance letter, informing that the project has been accorded environmental clearance and copies of clearance letter are available with the State Pollution Control Board/Committee and may also be seen at Website of the Ministry of Environment and Forests at http://envfor.nic.in.

 

v)            A copy of the clearance letter shall be sent by the proponent to concerned Panchayat, Zila Parisad / Municipal Corporation, urban local Body and the Local NGO, if any, from whom suggestions/representations, if any, received while processing the proposal. The clearance letter shall also be put on the website of the Company by the proponent.

 

vi)          An Environmental Cell comprising of atleast one expert in environmental science / engineering, occupational health and social scientist, shall be created at the project site itself and shall be headed by an officer of appropriate superiority and qualification. It shall be ensured that the Head of the Cell shall directly report to the head of the Organization who would be accountable for implementation of environmental regulations and social impact improvement/mitigation measures.

 

vii)         The proponent shall upload the status of compliance of the stipulated environmental clearance conditions, including results of monitored data on their website and shall update the same periodically. It shall simultaneously be sent to the Regional Office of MOEF, the respective Zonal Office of CPCB and the SPCB.

 

viii)       The project proponent shall also submit six monthly reports on the status of compliance of the stipulated EC conditions including results of monitored data (both in hard copies as well by e- mail) to the respective Regional Office of MOEF, the respective Zonal Office of CPCB and the SPCB.  

 

ix)          The project proponent shall submit six monthly reports on the status of the implementation of the stipulated environmental safeguards to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, its Regional Office, Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board. The project proponent shall upload the status of compliance of the environment of the environmental clearance conditions on their website and update the same periodically and simultaneously send the same by e-mail to the Regional Office, Ministry of Environment and Forests.

 

x)            Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment & Forests will monitor the implementation of the stipulated conditions. A complete set of documents including Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environment Management Plan along with the additional information submitted from time to time shall be forwarded to the Regional Office for their use during monitoring. Project proponent will up-load the compliance status in their website and up-date the same from time to time at least six monthly basis. Criteria pollutants levels including NOx (from stack & ambient air) shall be displayed at the main gate of the   power plant and in public domain.

 

xi)          Separate funds shall be allocated for implementation of environmental protection measures along with item-wise break-up. These cost shall be included as part of the project cost. The funds earmarked for the environment protection measures shall not be diverted for other purposes and year-wise expenditure should be reported to the Ministry.

 

xii)        The project authorities shall inform the Regional Office as well as the Ministry regarding the date of financial closure and final approval of the project by the concerned authorities and the dates of start of land development work and commissioning of plant.

 

xiii)       Full cooperation shall be extended to the Scientists/Officers from the Ministry / Regional Office of the Ministry at Bangalore / CPCB/ SPCB who would be monitoring the compliance of environmental status.

 

5.       The Ministry of Environment and Forests reserves the right to revoke the clearance if conditions stipulated are not implemented to the satisfaction of the Ministry. The Ministry may also impose additional environmental conditions or modify the existing ones, if necessary.

 

6.       The environmental clearance accorded shall be valid for a period of five years to start operations by the power plant.

 

7.       Concealing factual data or submission of false/fabricated data and failure to comply with any of the conditions mentioned above may result in withdrawal of this clearance and attract action under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

 

8.       In case of any deviation or alteration in the project proposed including coal transportation system from those submitted to this Ministry for clearance, a fresh reference should be made to the Ministry to assess the adequacy of the condition(s) imposed and to add additional environmental protection measures required, if any.

 

9.       The above stipulations would be enforced among others under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and rules there under, Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008 and its amendments, the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and its amendments.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

 

(Dr. P.L. Ahujarai)

Scientist ‘F’

 

 

 

 

Copy to:     

 

1.           The Secretary, Ministry of Power, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110001.

2.           The Secretary (Environment), Environment Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.

3.           The Chairman, Central Electricity Authority, Sewa Bhawan, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066.

4.           The Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board, No. 76, Mount Road, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032

5.           The Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh      Bhawan, CBD-cum-Office Complex, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi-   110032.

6.           The Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional Office (SZ), Kendriya Sadan, 4th Floor E&F Wings 17th Main Road, 1 Block , Koranmangala, Bangalore -560 034.

7.           The District Collector, Ramanathapuram District, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

8.        Guard file.

9.           Monitoring file.

 

 

 

(Dr. P.L. Ahujarai)

Scientist ‘F’