The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) has received the much-needed clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment to set up the Ennore SEZ Supercritical Thermal Power Plant.
The 1600 MW plant will be established on the 500 acre of ash dyke of North Chennai Thermal Power in Vayalur village near here at a cost of Rs9180 crore. The plant would be operated with coal imported from Indonesia to meet its annual requirement of 4.29 million tonnes.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest’s Expert Appraisal Committee on Environmental Impact Assessment of thermal power and coal mine projects has asked Tangedco to carry out continuous monitoring of all physical, chemical and biological parameters including heavy metals and marine biology.
The nod for the project was given by the committee at its 50th meeting on June 26 after laying out various condition including harnessing of solar power within the premises of the plant and creation of a green belt with a tree density of not less than 2500 per hectare.
After discussing the issues that had been raised during the public hearing held for the project at Vallur in February last year, the committee asked Tangedco to adequately contribute to the development of neighbouring villages by providing free potable drinking water and constructing schools.
It has directed the corporation to allocate Rs37 crore in this regard as a one-time cost for corporate social responsibility during the construction period of 48 months and subsequently to earmark Rs7.40 crore for every year of the plant’s life.