TANGEDCO has submitted a request for a renewed Environmental Clearance (EC) for the 2X660 MW Udangudi Supercritical Thermal Power Station, aiming to bypass the necessity of public hearings. As the current EC is set to expire on October 13, 2024, TANGEDCO has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change to issue fresh terms of reference. The on-going construction of the Udangudi thermal power plant has seen significant progress, with approximately 82.85% of the main plant work completed and 90% of the coal jetty component finalised. To ensure the timely commissioning of the Udangudi power plant, TANGEDCO has requested permission from the MoEF and CC to continue construction activities beyond the validity period while simultaneously processing a fresh EC with new terms of reference for the main plant. Furthermore, TANGEDCO has sought exemption from public hearings in accordance with a notification from the MoEF and CC dated March 18, 2021.
In its communication, TANGEDCO highlighted the renewal of the EC and CRZ clearance obtained for the interlinked project of Captive Coal Jetty and pipe conveyor system in August 2022, following the expiration of the ten-year period stipulated by the Environment Impact Assessment notification 2006. The EC renewal involved conducting Rapid Marine and Terrestrial EIA/EMP studies by an accredited consultant from June to November 2021. As the marine baseline data's validity extends for three years, TANGEDCO proposed the continued use of existing marine baseline data in the EIA/EMP study for the power project.
Initially conceptualised as a joint venture between TANGEDCO and BHEL, the Udangudi project later transitioned into a state sector project. Delays arose during the bidding process initiated in July 2013, leading to a legal challenge by one of the bidders, subsequently addressed by the Madras High Court. Ultimately, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Contract was awarded to BHEL in December 2017 following the court's ruling. ITD Cementation India Ltd was tasked with establishing a captive coal jetty and pipe conveyor system for the Udangudi project in February 2018, but execution faced setbacks due to cyclones and the Covid-19 pandemic.
