Binjkote power station

Binjkote power station is a proposed 1200 megawatt (MW) coal plant in Chhattisgarh state, India. It is also referred to as the Raigarh power station (SKS Ispat).

Location
The satellite photo below (date unknown) shows the location of the project, with no construction activity evident. The outline of the project can be seen on Wikimapia at http://bit.ly/HzOZk4.

Background
The project received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on October 5, 2010. According to the clearance, the project is located at villages Binjkot and Darramura, in Karsia taluk, in Raigarh district. Land requirement will be 874 acres, including 664 acres of agricultural land and 24.67 acres of double-crop agricultural land. Coal linkage has been obtained from the Fatehpur Coal Blck. Water allocation has been obtained from the Mahanadi River. No forest land is located on the project site; however, a number of reserve projects are located within 10 km.

According to a September 2013 news report, land area for the plant had been reduced by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) from 874 acres to 568.668 acres.

Hearings
According to the MoEF letter, a public hearing for the project was conducted on July 17, 2010.

Air pollution
The project will include "high efficiency electrostatic precipitators." No flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) equipment is required, but the 275 meter stack will be provided with "continuous online monitoring equipments for SOx, NOx, and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PR10, and mercury emissions from the stack "may also [be] monitored on periodic basis."

Fly ash and bottom ash
According to the MoEF letter, "Ash pond shall be moved away from side facing river and a thick three tier green belt shall be developed on the western side of the ash pond. Area of reservoir shall be restricted to 75 acres. Utilization of 100% fly ash generated shall be made from 4th year of operation of the plant.... Fly ash shall be collected in dry form and storage facility (silos) shall be provided. Un-utilized fly ash shall be disposed off in the ash pond in the form of slurry. Mercury and other heavy metals (As, Hg, Cr, Pb etc.) will be monitored in the bottom ash as also in the effluents emanating from the existing ash pond. No ash shall be disposed of in low lying area. Ash pond shall be lined with HDPE/LDPE lining or any other suitable impermeable media such that no leachate takes place at any point in time. Adequate safety measures shall also be implemented to protect the ash dike from getting breached."

Environmental monitoring and public information
According to the MoEF letter, "Project proponent will up-load the compliance status in their website and up-date the same from time to time at least six monthly basis. Criteria pollutants levels including NOx (from stack 7 ambient air) shall be displayed at the main gate of the power plant.

Water
According to the MoEF letter, "Source sustainability study of water requirement shall be carried out by an institute of repute. The study shall also specify the source of water for meeting the requirement during lean season. The report shall be submitted to the Regional Office of the Ministry within six months. No ground water shall be extracted for use in operation of the power plant even in lean season. Hydro geological study of the area shall be reviewed annually and report submitted to the Ministry. No water bodies including natural drainage system in the area shall be disturbed due to activities associated with the setting up / operation of the power plant. COC of 6.0 shall be adopted. The treated effluents conforming to the prescribed standards only shall be re-circulated and reused within the plant. There shall be no discharge outside the plant boundary except during monsoon. Arrangements shall be made that effluents and storm water do not get mixed."

Coal supply delayed
According to a September 2013 news report, the company had not yet entered into a fuel supply pact with Coal India.

Project Details
Sponsor: SKS Ispat and Power Location: Binjkote and Darramura villages, Kharsia taluk, Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh state, India Coordinates: 22.0325 to 22.000278 latitude, 83.215278 to 83.200833 longitude Status: Advanced development. (Units 1-3 are on the Central Electricity Authority's "construction" list as of September 2013; however, no confirming details are provided by the CEA, by SKS, or in the press.) Nameplate capacity: 1200 MW (4 x 300 MW) Type: Projected in service: Units 1 and 2: 2014; Units 3 and 4: 2015 Coal Source: Fatehpur Coal Block (allocation obtained) Estimated annual CO2: Source of financing:

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