Nagai Minutes

Minutes of the Public Hearing Meeting conducted for 2 x 150 MW Coal based Power Plant of MIs. Nagai Power Private Limited, Okkur village, Venkidankal village, Velankudi village and Periyakannamangalam village Nagapattinam District Tamil Nadu, on 15.05.2008 at 04.00 P.M at Neikuppai Village, Nagapattinam District. Attendees: 1. The District Collector, Nagapattinam 2. District Environmental Engineer, TNPCB, Nagapattinam List of Public Participated: As per Annexure-1. MIs. Nagai Power Private Ltd., is proposed unit to produce 2 x 150 MW Electrical Power at Survey Nos. 84 to 89, 92 to 93 of Okkur Village, Kelvelur Taluk, and Survey Nos. 182 to 221 of Venkidankal Village, Kelvelur Taluk and Survey Nos. 99,101,102,118 to 122 ofVelankudi Village and Survey Nos. 102 to 107 of Periyakannamangalam Village, Nagapattinam Taluk. The unit proposal is attracting the said "EIA" Notification 2006, and requires Public Hearing. Hence, the unit has applied to the TNPC Board for conducting Public Hearing. The Public Hearing meeting has been conducted on 15.05.2008 at 04.00 P.M. at Neikuppai Village of Nagapattinam District. There are about 400 public have attended the meeting, among them women are about 250 Nos. and male are about 150 Nos. The District Collector, Nagapattinam supervised and presided over the entire Public Hearing meeting assisted by the District Environmental Engineer, Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board, Nagapattinam. The District Environmental Engineer, Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board, Nagapattinam has welcomed the District Collector and public.-He has informed that the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India have notified "Environmental Impact Assessment Notification" on 27.01.1994 for the development projects coming up in India as per the schedule-1 of the Notification. These projects require Environmental clearance from the MOEF, GOI, New Delhi. In order to have proper assessment of the Public Hearing is mandatory for all the projects requiring Environmental clearance. He has also stated that the unit i3 proposed to produce 300 MW of Electric Power. The unit has proposed to use coal as raw material. The District Collector cum presiding officer of the Public Hearing meeting has elaborated the Government Rules, purpose of Public Haring meeting, etc.,. The District Collector has requested a representative of the applicant to initiate the proceedings with a presentation on the project and the summary EIA Report. The representative of the applicant has stated the following. The proposed project will produce 2 x 150 MW Electric Power. The coal is the main raw material used for boiler which is containing low sulphur and low content of ash. The steam produced by boiler will be used to drive the turbine to produce electric power. Connected to each boiler of 125 mts height. To control the emissions from the chimneys of the boiler Electrostatic precipitators of 99% efficiency will be provided. The ash generating from the unit's activity will be utilized by cement units for producing cement. There is a demand for ash in the market. The ash will be stored in silos. The sea water will be used for cooling. The boiler blow down will be discharged on ground within site for irrigation. The temperature of the cooling tower blow down water discharged into the sea will be less than 5°c. At about 30% of the total area tree saplings will be planted. Due to the activities of the units the effect on the environment is very less. . Requisite Pollution Control measures will be provided to control the Water and Air Pollution. The District Collector has requested the Public to speak one by one and the Public have aired their views as below: 01. Thiru. Thiagarajan, President, Vengidankal. In this area silicate companies, power companies are functioning.

If the unit is allowed to operate: Poor farmers. will be affected. Environment will be affected. Drinking water may not be available. The District Collector, Nagapattinam has to give assurance for hospital, employment to a erson in a house, roads, housing facilities, etc., The District Collector has intervened and requested to speak on merits and demerits of the Environment. The speaker has informed that even if the emissions are vented at 120m height pollution may not be contained. 2. Thiru. T. Kanapathy, Councillor, Eruvancheri. It has been reported that the emissions will be vent-out at 120m. He has requested the disposal details of the waste water Farmers are predominantly available in the area. Employment opportunity is to be given to the local people. If the people are affected by the unit rectification work is to be taken-up. Otherwise,' agitation will be done against the project. 3. Thiru. Balasubramanian, President, Okkur. The pollutions of land, water and air are to be ascertained and if pollution is available the names of villages to be affected are to be informed. If the project is useful to the public it shall be allowed. 4. Thiru. Sundaramoorthy, President, Neikuppai. It has been reported by the unit's authorities that Jetropha, coal and gas will be used for producing power. Now, it is reported that it is thermal power station. The District Collector and Experts may explain the details of the Project and pollution aspects. 5. Thiru. M.Sakthivel, Member of the Fishermen Association, T.R.Pattinam. - The unit has proposed to utilize coal as fuel and the discharge the waste water into the sea. The discharge of the waste water affects Nagai and Cuddalore District. . Discharge of effluents into the sea from chemical units affect the sea shore and affects micro organisms in Cuddalore District. - The livelihood of the people will be affected. - The people living nearer to sea will be affected in two Districts. (i.e. Nagapattinam and Cuddalore Districts). 6. Thiru. Jeeva, Member, Coastal Action Network, Nagapattinam. The project will affect the fishermen and farmers in the locality. In the Democracy employment opportunity is to to given. But the Government is allotting land to the unit which will reduce the employment opportunities. Compensation may be given by the unit's authority; but there is no land for agricultural purpose. - The District Collector intervened and requested to speak on Environmental issues. - The Speaker has stated below: - The Government may not acquire agriculture lands. - The fly ash of the units located at Ennore and Neyveli is not used by the cement companies. - The ash is washed in the rain water and lakhs of tones of ash is not used. - The discharge of hot water into the sea will affect the fish culture. - The units may come forward to putup solar power plant. - This plant is to be banned. 7. Tmt.Vanaja, Tamil Nadu Women's Committee, Chennai. She has informed the following:

- The applicant's agent has informed that due to this unit less effect will be caused on the environment; but not refused that there will not be any pollution. - The project will affect the fishermen and farmers. Thermal power station is functioning at Neyveli, Cuddalore districts of Tamil Nadu where children have mental dis-order. The hot water generated and discharged from the unit will affect the organisms in the sea. From the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited, Cuddalore the problems of the thermal power station shall be understood. The project is slow poison. She has informed that the project should not come-up. Also, she has requested the public who have gathered for the Public Hearing Meeting to stand-up who ars against the projects. For her request most of the public stood-up. 8.Tmt.Gandhimathi, Member, CQastal Action Newt Work, Nagai. - The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report stated that less rainfall in this area but, it is not the fact. - The EIA Notification, 2006 of the Government of India itself is not correct. - There are two rivers are flowing nearer to the project site viz. Vettar and Velaparu. Back waters in the said rivers is to be analylsed and furnished in the EtA report. The lands are full of agricultural lands wherein dal, groundnut, paddy, etc. are produced. Enormous. thermal pollution will be discharged in the Environment. Expansion of North Chennai (Tamil Nadu) Thermal Power Station has been stopped due to pollution effect. The unit has not produced comprehensive EIA report. Fly ash generating from the unit will cause Health hazards and the explanation of the applicant's representative is not admittable. Details of solid waste have not been furnished by the applicant. - The unit's activities will lead to global warming and ecological imbalance. The emission of carbon shall not be permitted. It may affect the farmers and fishermen. She concluded that the project should not be entertained and stopped. 9. Thiru. Venkatesh, T.R.Pattinam, Karaikal. Fishermen will be affected. Hot water discharged from the T.P.S. of Cuddalore District in Tamil Nadu has affected the fishes in the sea. The carbon dust generating from the unit will affect the people. - The project should be banned. 10. Tmt. Chellammal, Tamil Nadu Environment Committee, Vedaranyam. - The water sources such as groundwater, ponds will be affected. - Animals and Farmers will be affected. - The ash generating from the unit will cause the disease of Tuberclosis. - Agriculture land of about 300 acres will be damaged. Fire accidents may be happened. 11. Thiru.Nijamudeen, Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organization, Cuddalore. - The unit will emits oxides of Nitrogen, Sulphur dioxide to the atmosphere. The Sulphur di-oxide emission will affect about 20km. radius. Oxides of Nitrogen will affect the public and flora. - The villages located around the unit will be affected. - The Suspended Particulate matter will affect the atmosphere. - The coal is containing heavy metals such as chromim, cadmium, mergury which will affect the health of the public. - The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has released a white report that required quantity of power will be available by 2012. In such case there is no need for the thermal projects of

the private parties. - The project activities will lead to global warming. Coal based thermal power stations will affect the Environment and alternate projects are required. 12. Tmt. Vedavalli, Karaikal, Union Teritory, Pondi. - The agricultural lands, ground water will be affected. - The organizations in the sea will be affected due discharge of waste water. - The Public Hearing meeting is an eye wash. to the 13. Thiru. Nindhikesh. Consumer Group, Chennai. - The study period of 3 months is not adequate to prepare the EIA report. - Noise pollution will be generated and affect the people. - There is no demand for fly ash. - The plant will affect the Environment. 14. Thiru. Packrisamy, Vengidankal. - There are reports that the environment will be affected. - We do not know surely about the health hazardous arounds. - The District Collector may take a suitable decision. 15. Thiru.G.Mohan, Velankudi. - The unit authorities have informed previously that Jatro-pha seed/oil will be used as fuel. - The District Collector may take a suitable decision. 16. Thiru. Asaithambi, Velankudi. - The unit's authority has informed that Jatropha oil will be used for the project. - Now, the public are fearing for the projects. 17. Thiru. A Panerselvam ,Okkur. - The project may affect the Environment and may be stopped. 18. Thiru. Dhanapal, Okkur. He has informed that the plant will affect the public and animals and hence may be avoided. 19. Thiru.M.Sankar, Neikuppai. The unit's activities will lead to climate change, global warming, noise pollution, air pollution, water pollutions etc,. and affect the Environment. - Even the colour of the ground water will be changed. - Migration of the people leads to poverty. - It will leads to food and fish culture depletion. Flora and fauna will be affected. 20. Selvi. K.Sakila, Tamil Nadu Womens Association, Chennai. - The project will affect the fishes culture, agriculture and hence employment will be affected. It will also lead to depletion of ground water. Hence, the project is not necessary. 21. Thiru. Delikamaiya, Environemntal Safety Association, Dindigul. - As the unit's activities will affect the environment the project may be stopped. 22. Thiru. Govindasamy, Velankudi. - The countries like Japan have improved due to industrial growth. There is no water for irrigation. Hence, the project is required. 23. Tmt. Indirani, Fisherwomen, Karaikal. - If the project is allowed it will affect the health of the people, fish culture in the sea, damage ground water and to the Environment. - The unit shall not discharge the waste water into the sea. - Employment of>portunities will not be given to the local people. The project may not be allowed.

24. Thiru. Saravanan, Narimanam. In all the activities of the people pollution occurs. There is shortage of power. Hence, the project may be permitted. 25. Thiru. Jayapal, Velankudi. - The pollution generating from the unit will affect the Environment including sea, land and flora. Hence, the project is not required. If it is allowed we will agitate against the project until die. 26. Thiru. Bala, Vengidankal. He has informed that the District Collector may decide the issues. 27. Thiru. Pappaiyan, Nagai. It is agricultural land. The District Collector may decide the issue. 28. Thiru. Muru.ganandan, T.R.Pattinam. The unit's activities will affect the Environment and may not be allowed. 29. Thiru. Perumal, Sreeperumpudur, Coastal Action Network, Kancheepuram District. - The proposed unit will affect the Environment and hence to be banned. The District Collector has requested the project proponent to answer to the questions raised in the Public Hearing meeting. But, the public have informed that the applicant's representative explanation is not required. Finally, the District Collector has informed that the proceedings of the Public Hearing has been registered properly and will be sent to the Government through the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control' Board, Chennai and the meeting came to an end. During Public Hearing 15 Nos. of petitions have been received and the copies of the same are annexed. The same copies have been forwarded to the applicant to furnish suitable reply District Collector Nagapattinam