Environment Ministry invites comments on the ‘Agro residue utilization by thermal power plants rules, 2023’ by 17th April, 2023

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued the Draft Agro residue utilization by thermal power plants rules, 2023 (“Draft Rules”) and has invited comments from the public by 17^th April, 2023.

Key Highlights:

1. The Draft Rules apply to all Thermal Power Plants located in the area falling under the jurisdiction of Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas constituted under “The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021”;2. The Draft Rules direct all coal based thermal power plants of power generation utilities to mandatorily use minimum 5% blend of pellets / briquettes made of crop residue along with coal;

   3. The rates at which Environmental Compensation (“EC”) will be levied are also specified in the Draft Rules.

   Comments/Suggestions in this regard must be addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi – 110 003 in writing or through e-mail at (mishra.vp@gov.in) or (rnpankaj.cpcb@nic.in).

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change