DVC’s administrative building at Maithon in Dhanbad.

Ranchi, April 12: Jharkhand State Pollution Board (JSPCB) has issued a temporary closure notice to Koderma Thermal Power Station (KTPS), asking it to shut down one of its units that was holding trial runs for violating environmental norms.

Today, JSPCB, which allowed trial runs of one of its units for four months till April 30, ordered its closure on grounds of severe environmental violation, which had adversely affected the local area, including livelihood and water bodies.

A subsidiary of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), KTPS is situated in the Banjhedih area of the district. It is a 1,000MW capacity plant with its two units yet to begin commercial operations.

KTPS got environmental clearance from the Centre in 2005 after which it began civil work. Sources said that both the units were almost complete and were expected to begin production soon.

This was the second major blow to DVC. Earlier this week, JSPCB slapped a showcause notice on another of its subsidiaries, Chandrapura Thermal Power Station (CTPS), in Bokaro.

“As far as KTPS is concerned, the whole area is polluted by dry ash. Water bodies have also lost their true colour due to release of slurry and what not. The situation is terrible and we had to order closure,” said JSPCB chairman Mani Shankar.

“The pollution level is alarming during trials. One wonders what will happen when commercial production begins. As a regulatory body, the board can’t risk environment degradation and will do all that is needed to protect it,” Shankar told The Telegraph over phone.

He said permission for trial runs was given to help the PSU synchronise equipment and tune other plant components.

“Ever since it began (trial runs), complaints started flooding in. We took action after our regional office in Hazaribagh physically verified it and submitted a report,” Shankar said.

Shankar further said that JSPCB would not relent until it was convinced that corrective measures had been taken.

“We told them to give us a detail report on corrective measures with photographic evidences after which we will conduct an inspection on our own. Depending upon the recommendation and inputs from our local office, we will decide the future course of action,” he added.

DVC headquarters denied knowledge of today’s JSPCB action at Koderma. “The plant was yet to go commercial so I am not sure if closure can be served or not. But still, we will take measures as advocated by the regulatory agency,” said a senior official who did not wish to be identified.

Earlier, commenting on the alleged violations in CTPS, DVC chairman R.N. Sen said that ash output was more due to increase in coal consumption because of heightened demand of power production.

“We are also concerned and so we are taking adequate steps in order to minimise adverse affects to the environment,” he said.

Today, JSPCB also okayed resumption of operations at SAIL’s Saranda-based Gua mines where work had been stalled since June 2011 as Steelk Authority of India had failed submit a wildlife management plan for the West Singhbhum forest.

“By opening the Gua ore mines, approximately 5,000 families, hitherto dependent on it, would benefit directly or indirectly. The closure of the mines resulted in the state government losing revenue to the tune of Rs 100 crore per annum. So, it’s a very appropriate decision taken today,” Shankar said.