Guidelines for thermal power plants

The objective of this guideline is to provide necessary safeguards and conditions for the protection of the environment. The guidelines lays special emphasis on due considerations to topography, geology, hydrology, meteorology, fuel storage, ash disposal etc. in the selection of site for thermal power stations. Thermal Power Stations (TPS) should be guided by the following site criteria -

• Location of Thermal Power Plants should be avoided within 25 km of the outer peripheries of metropolitan cities, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and ecologically sensitive areas.

• A buffer zone of 5 km should be kept free of any TPS to protect the coastal area of 500 m of High Tide Line (HTL)

• The site (chimney) should not fall within the approach funnel of the runway of the nearest airport.

• The site should be atleast 500 m away from the Flood Plain of the Riverine Systems.

• The site should also be atleast 0.5 km away from highways.

• Location of TPS should be avoided within 11 km of places of archeological, historical, cultural, religious or tourist importance and defense installations.

• The TPS should be surrounded by an exclusion zone of 1.6 km and located on the leeward side of the exclusion zone with respect to the predominant wind direction.

• No forest or prime agricultural land should be utilized for setting up of TPS, or for ash disposal.

The stack height of the TPS should conform to the standards prescribed by Central/State Pollution Control Board for better dispersal of pollutants over a wide area.

A green belt whose width would vary between 5 - 500 m depending upon meteorological conditions and the extent of nearby habitations should surround the periphery of the TPS.