Bhadreshwar Thermal Power Project (Adani)

The Bhadreshwar Thermal Power Project is a proposed 3,300 megawatt (MW) in Gujarat, India by Kutchh Power Generation Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Power.

Location
The map below shows the location of Bhadreshwar village, Kutch district, Gujarat, India but not the exact location of the project.

Background
The plant would be constructed near the Mundra Port, in district Kutchh in Gujarat, India.

December 2011: Project placed on hold due to coal supply problems
In December 2011, Adani Power said that it was putting 6,500 MW of capacity expansion projects on hold due to coal supply uncertainties. The plants on hold include Pench Thermal Power Project in Madhya Pradesh, Bhadreshwar Thermal Power Project (Adani) in Gujarat, and Dahej Thermal Power Project in Gujarat.

Citizen opposition
Fisherfolk and salt pan workers in Kutch district have organized in opposition to the project. Activists have objected to the open cycle once-through cooling system due to the impacts of thermal pollution on marine ecology.

According to the Bhadreshwar fishing community trade union, local communities in the vicinity of other coal plants on the Kutch coast have suffered from coal dust and fly ash especially during summer months due to arid conditions and the direction of wind towards land. Concerns include the effect of air pollution on fish drying and salt production, as well as on the famous Jain Vasai teerth, a pilgrimage destination for members of the Jain religion. Residents note that over 1,000 families are dependant on traditional fishing, and that the cumulative effects of multiple power plants have not been adequately considered. The trade union notes that the Adani Foundation has offered a compensation package to the fishing community but that the amount of the package (Rs.4 Crores) is a "lollipop," especially compared to the Rs.20 Crores of annula revenue from fishing on the Bhadreshwar coast.

In September 2010 local residents submitted the following letter and an accompanying petition to the Ministry of Environment and Forests:


 * The main purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention our concern that the manner, in which the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has planned the public hearing for the KPGL power plant, will render the public hearing as an empty formality. We have seen the draft EIA reports which have been submitted by KPGL. The project uses ONCE THROUGH COOLING SYSTEM which is likely to cause extensive damage to marine ecology. However, key information such as marine EIA, which is important for local communities to get a complete idea of the project impacts, is missing in the documents submitted. It is meaningless to conduct the public hearing without giving required information about the project impacts and without giving sufficient opportunity for the affected persons to express their views about the project. The issues related to the KPGL public hearing are explained in more detail in http://www.scribd.com/doc/38180410/Jairam-Letter


 * In view of the above issues with the public hearing of the KPGL power plant, we demand that:
 * 1. The KPGL public hearing on 5th October must be cancelled and held on a separate date in Bhadreshwar village itself or close to the project location, if the project location is changed.


 * 2. Alternate sites such as Tunda in West Mundra must be considered for the KPGL project as Bhadreshwar in East Mundra is one of the last few remaining fishing settlements for traditional fisherfolk.


 * 3. Comprehensive EIA with full year data or at-least EIA of summer season is required as the KPGL power plant is a large project and conditions in Kutch coast are such that worst pollution is experienced in summer months. The entire EIA must be done again in a rigorous and systematic manner.


 * 4. The Marine EIA report needs to be published along with other documents submitted for the public hearing.’


 * 5. Cumulative impact of proposed projects such as OPG power project, KPGL power project coming up in Bhadreshwar village and other projects on Mundra coast needs to be studied before considering the Environment Clearance for the KPGL project.


 * 6. The Fishing community objects to the CSR report which mentions that the community is demanding for alternate employment. This report needs to be withdrawn. A moratorium needs to be announced on schemes and grants to community on the eve of the public hearing and any CSR programme has to be developed in consultation with the local communities likely to be affected by the project.



Project Details
Sponsor: Kutchh Power Generation Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Power Location: Bhadreshwar village, Kutch district, Gujarat, India Coordinates: Status: Deferred Nameplate capacity: 3,300 MW Type: Projected in service: Coal Type: Coal Source: Estimated annual CO2: Source of financing: MoEF permits: Environmental clearance, (May 20, 2010)

Activist groups

 * Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan (MASS) - fishing community trade union - mass.kutch AT gmail.com

Related SourceWatch articles

 * India and coal
 * Proposed coal plants in India