Government seeks Implementable action plan for shifting Paper Mills on Clean fuel in NCR

Government seeks Implementable action plan for shifting Paper Mills on Clean fuel in NCR

New Delhi | 13th January 2021 | The Pulp and Paper Times:

In view of serious adverse impact of emissions from coal-burning on the air quality in the NCR region, the government of India is again seeking an integrated and concerted action plan to address this source of pollutant in NCR. An implementable action plan, with a definite time frame, to make the industries shift to cleaner fuels.

In this regard, Uttar Pradesh Government has convened a meeting of concerned stakeholders on 14 January 2021 to discuss the removal of coal from the approved fuel list & shifting of industries to clean fuel.

Despite getting the assurance of Environment Minister, Mr. Prakash Javadekar in August 2019 that the ministry will take concern of the CPCB’s decision and direction issued may please be withdrawn forthwith & compliant units should not be asked to switch over to PNG. Paper Mills falling under the NCR region are afraid of permanent closure of their unit due to the increased cost of fuel and infrastructure replacement.

Talking to The Pulp and Paper Times, President of NCR Paper Mill Association and Paswara Papers Ltd’s MD Mr. Arvind Agarwal strongly expresses objection against the impractical step being considered by the Central Govt. to remove coal from the approved fuel list.

“PNG as fuel is not a feasible and viable option for the paper industry especially paper mills where the electricity and steam is major input which accounts for approx. 25 to 30 percent of the total cost of finished products,”

“The price of PNG is 3 times more than the cost of present low sulfur steam coal and steam boilers & turbines cannot be operated on PNG. The whole infrastructure will require replacement which will take 3 to 4 years involving a huge investment of approx INR 70 to 100 crore per unit which is not possible,” He said.

Mr. Ashok Bansal, MD, Nikita Papers Limited, Shamli said that “We are very upset about this action plan being taken by Centre Government, it will finish the competitiveness of NCR region paper mills in the market because our finished product would be dearer by 3 to 4 times compared to other paper mill running their boilers on wood, coal, paddy, and baggage. PNG will increase the production cost of paper by INR 2000 to 3000 per tonne,”

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on 02.07.2019 requiring State Govt. of U.P. for the closure of industrial units in NCR Districts of U.P. where PNG supply is available & industry has not shifted to PNG.

In order to formulate a detailed course of action to control emission from the use of coal, the current position with regard to the use of coal as fuel in the NCR is required to be examined/studied in depth. In this regard, a status note indicating the annual consumption of coal in the districts falling under the NCR, capturing the district-wise number of coal-based industries and establishments operating in NCR may be available to the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas.

     

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