India, April 9 -- New Delhi

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday directed six thermal power plants (TPPs) operating within a 300-kilometre radius of Delhi to pay a cumulative amount of Rs.61.85 crore in environmental compensation, for non-compliance with biomass co-firing norms.

The TPPs were found to be non-compliant with the mandate for using a 5% blend of pellets or briquettes made of paddy straw crop residue along with coal, it said.

"The Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023 mandate all coal-based TPPs to utilise 5% blend of biomass pellets or briquettes along with coal, with a minimum threshold of 3% co-firing prescribed for FY 2024-25 to avoid imposition of Environ...