Chandigarh, July 16 -- The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has deposited half of the Rs.4.86-crore environmental penalty imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for alleged non-compliance with biomass co-firing norms at the Guru Hargobind Thermal Power Plant, Lehra Mohabbat, and has approached the National Green Tribunal seeking relief from payment of the remaining amount.

The CAQM had imposed the environmental compensation on April 1, 2026, after the Bathinda thermal plant allegedly failed to meet mandatory biomass co-firing targets.

Under the biomass co-firing norms, thermal power plants must use a specified percentage of biomass pellets-made from agricultural residues, wood waste or crop stubble-alo...