New Delhi, April 9 -- 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, ... to avoid imposition of Environmental Compensation. These statutory provisions were notified with the objective of promoting ex-situ management of crop residue...," the CAQM stated. The CAQM said the move in this case comes after a committee of members from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Sustainable Agrarian Mission on use of Agri-Residue in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reviewed representations from TPPs regarding relaxation of the environmental compensation. CAQM officials stated that the letter informing the plants of the penalty was sent to them on April 1. "The replies of the 06 non-compliant TPPs were reviewed in detail by the Committee and it was observed that the reasons provided did not establish that the entities tried earnestly to comply with the statutory directions," it said. Of the six power plants, the Talwandi Sabo Power Limited in Mansa, Punjab, has been directed to pay the highest environmental compensation, of Rs.33.02 crore. In Haryana, the Panipat Thermal Power Station was fined Rs.8.98 crore, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram TPP was fined Rs.6.69 crore, and Rajiv Gandhi TPP was fined Rs.5.55 Crore. The Guru Hargobind TPP in Punjab was fined Rs.4.87 crore, and the Harduaganj Thermal Power Station in Uttar Pradesh was fined Rs.2.74 crore. The power plants were directed to deposit the fines by April 15. Inder Pal, director, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, said, "We have tried to enforce compliance of the said guidelines but there is a shortage of pellets made of paddy straw in the market. We even conveyed this to the CAQM." Punjab power secretary Basant Garg said the state will pursue all available legal remedies. Haryana power minister Anil Vij was not available for comment and officials at the power plant refused comment. The Harduaganj thermal power plant in Aligarh district, UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) managing director Mayur Maheshwari said the plant was not able to comply with the biomass cofiring norms because of the technical issues related to operation and maintenance (O&M).. "The power production machines at our Haduaganj thermal station are not able to technically support the biomass co-firing. If we do it, there is the risk of it having an adverse impact on the power production units," he said. "Moreover, machines there are under the warrant period and if we tamper with them, we will lose the warranty."...