Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Vedprakash Vs State of Haryana dated 24/10/2019 regarding handling of the accumulated fly ash at the units of M/s NTPC Aravali Power Co. (P) Ltd. and M/s Jhajjar Power Ltd. (CLP India) in District Jhajjar.

According to the complaint, huge amount of fly ash was generated and accumulated causing air pollution which resulted in diseases to the inhabitants. Complainant alleged that he was suffering from TB as per the report of the Civil Hospital, Jhajjar.

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Report submitted by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) confirmed huge amount of fly ash accumulation at the unit of M/s Jhajjar Power Ltd. (CLP India), District Jhajjar. The issue was again reviewed by the Tribunal on July 1, 2019 wherein the Tribunal asked for submission of reports from M/s NTPC Aravali Power Co. (P) Ltd., M/s Jhajjar Power Ltd. (CLP India), Chief Medical Officer, Jhajjar District and HSPCB.

The reports filed shows action plan has been prepared for fly ash disposal and the problem of fly ash was in respect of M/s Indira Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project (IGSTPP), Jhajjar at village Jharli, Haryana especially Pond-IIA and Pond-III.

The action plan states the following:

• Pond-IIA has approximately 10.5 lakh MT HCSD fly ash as on date and its evacuation is under progress with various agencies and expected to be completed by March, 2021.
• Pond-Ill has approximately 28 lakh MT mixed ash. As 03 lakh MT ash is to be kept along inner periphery of dyke bund for preventing erosion of bund base, hence issuable ash is approx. 25 Lakh MT only. Evacuation of 10 lakh MT have been awarded to different agencies and the balance 15 lakh MT of pond-III ash evacuation is being tied-up with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for different road projects. Evacuation completion was expected by August, 2021.

The NGT after going through the action plan filed by the thermal power plants directed that keeping in mind the "potential hazard of air pollution and public health in storing the fly ash, the timeline needs to be preponed to 31.12.2020."

The HSPCB has been directed to ensure that the thermal plant revises the plan and a performance guarantee of Rs. 50 lakhs should be taken from the unit.