Tata Seek to Change Activists Minds

Following protests over its plan of converting the oil-fired unit-6 in Trombay facility to a coal-fired one, the Tata Power Company will now arrange for visits by NGOs, activists and locals to change public perception about the plan.

The experts’ appraisal committee (EAC) of the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) had, last week, asked Tata to submit a compliance report and carry out some tasks before seeking approval. The plan is being opposed by activists political parties and locals, citing environmental issues. S Padmanabhan, executive director (operations), Tata Power, said,

“Converting the unit to low-sulphur, low-ash imported coal-fired one will not only reduce the cost of production and monthly power bills, but will also control the pollution level in the city.

We have been generating around 1,600 MW of power using coal and oil and keeping the pollution levels low.”

According to the officer, firing unit-6 of oil costs Rs11 for a unit while the cost of coal-fired generation comes to Rs3-4 for a unit:

“The oil-fired generation adds to the total cost, which is then recovered from consumers.”