Central pollution control body orders closure of 2 units of Mahagenco’s Parli plant

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the state pollution control body to immediately shut down units 6 and 8 of Mahagenco's Parli thermal power station in Beed district, citing continued non-compliance with emission norms, operation without valid consent, and serious environmental violations.In directions issued on Feb 5 under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, CPCB chairman Vir Vikram Yadav ordered that units 6 and 8 be closed with immediate effect, and not allowed to resume operations until the closure directions are formally revoked and prior permission is obtained from CPCB. The board also instructed Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to revoke any renewed consent to operate (CTO) for the two units.When contacted, MPCB regional officer Manish Holkar confirmed receiving the letter and said, "We have started taking steps in accordance with the CPCB directives."The CPCB noted that directions were earlier issued on May 7, 2018, to units 6 and 8 for non-compliance. Despite this, the units continued to operate. It further pointed out that the CTO for the plant expired on Dec 31, 2024, and operating beyond this date without valid consent amounts to a violation of environmental laws.Thermal power plants are among the 17 highly polluting industries identified by the centre. The board observed that the deadline for compliance with revised emission standards for particulate matter, NOx, and mercury lapsed on Dec 31, 2024. As per inspection findings and CSIR-NEERI adequacy assessment report of July 2024, units 6, 7, and 8 were non-compliant with revised PM norms effective Jan 1, 2025.The prescribed PM limit is 50 mg/Nm³, but inspection findings recorded levels ranging between 87 and 91 mg/Nm³. The electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), installed to control particulate emissions, were found to be inadequate in ensuring compliance.The CPCB also flagged gaps in online monitoring. Effluent monitoring data from the Online Continuous Emission and Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) had not been transmitted to CPCB servers since Dec 2024. Emission data for NOx from units 6 and 7 were also not transmitted since Sept 2024, and PM data for unit 7 since Dec 2024, raising concerns over transparency in reporting pollution levels.During an inspection by CPCB's regional directorate in Pune on May 20, 2025, untreated blackish effluent was seen flowing outside the boundary near the main gate, and entering natural drains. Leakages from the raw effluent pump house were observed, and sludge from the 4 MLD effluent treatment plant (ETP) was found accumulated in settling tanks with vegetation growth. Of two sewage treatment plants for residential colonies, the 100 KLD unit was under repair, and untreated sewage was discharged into a nearby drain.Ash management violations were also recorded. While the plant reported ash utilisation of over 100% in some years, an authorised auditor's report for 2023-24 found actual utilisation at 55.61% against the mandated 80% target under the Ash Notification, 2021. The shortfall could attract environmental compensation at Rs 1,000 per tonne of unutilised ash. No third-party safety audit of ash dykes had been conducted since 2019, and illegal ash excavation was reported due to open access to dyke areas. Over 200 barrels of used oil were found stored on bare ground with spillage into soil, and ETP sludge was mixed with ash slurry instead of being sent to authorised disposal facilities.Dust suppression systems, including mist spraying at coal unloading points, were found non-functional, resulting in significant fugitive emissions.The MPCB was directed to ensure compliance by Units 6, 7, and 8 and submit an action taken report within 30 days. Environmental compensation proceedings will be dealt with separately.Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) politician and former leader of opposition Ambadas Danve targeted the BJP-led state govt and questioned it for turning a blind eye to the rampant violations for years.