Delhi Government Extends Closure of NTPC’s Badarpur Power Plant

Delhi Government has decided to continue with the closure of Badarpur power plant due to high smoke emission till further orders are issued.

The power station was shut down on 7 Nov’16 due to high smoke emission degrading air quality standards.

Initially, the plant was supposed to be closed till Nov’16; later the date was extended to 31 Jan’17. With the prevailing air quality in Delhi, the plant is not expected to reopen in the near future.

Badarpur power plant is one of the coal-fired plants of NTPC Ltd, located at Badarpur area in NCT Delhi. The plant was established in 1974 with a view to meet electricity demands neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, U.P., Rajasthan, and Delhi. But since the year 1987 Delhi has become its sole beneficiary.

The plant was originally constructed under the ownership of Central Electricity Authority(CEA), later it was transferred to NTPC Ltd with effect from 01.06.2006 through GOI’s Gazette Notification.

The initial capacity of the plant was 720 MW, but after its three units of 100 MW have been derated to 95 MW, the current installed capacity now stands at 705 MW.

Environmental Effects:
After NTPC Ltd took over the plant in 2006; the performance of plant has increased steadily and significantly. But now the plant is facing several environmental issues.

Being an old plant, Badarpur Thermal Power Station (BTPS) has little automation. Its performance is deteriorating due to various reasons, like ageing, high smoke emission etc.

Ironically, this plant which caters only 7.9% share of the Delhi’s total power requirement contributes to 80-90% of the PMP( Pollution Permanent Monitoring Panel) and other major pollutants such as(Sulphur oxides) SOx and (Nitrogen Oxides) NOx.

It is also the world’s most inefficient plant with 14% higher carbon dioxide emissions. To add on the inefficiency, the power cost is supplied at an inflated cost compared with an average power plant which supplies the same power.

The necessity of Plant:
Badarpur power plant needs to reopen to meet Delhi’s energy demand. The plant is crucial to meet Delhi’s peak summer demand which is expected to grow to new highs.

The plant needs to be operational till Tuglaqabad transmission sub-station is commissioned to meet energy requirement of the state, and there has to be permanent closure plan for Badarpur plant to curb pollution.

Source: NTPC Website