How much paddy stubble can we use in thermal plants?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited to submit by next Tuesday as to how much crop or paddy residue it can use as raw material with coal to produce electricity. The tribunal also sought to know NTPC’s total coal demand for its seven thermal power plants, six in Uttar Pradesh and one in Haryana.

A four-member Tribunal bench, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, passed the directions while hearing the matter on stubble burning. Widespread paddy stubble burning in October and November across Punjab, Haryana and parts of UP had worsened Delhi’s already toxic air early this month in a repeat of last year’s smog.

The Tribunal also directed state governments of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to submit information on biomass plants that convert paddy straw into pellets.

During the hearing, NGT sought to know from NTPC how much coal it would save if paddy straw converted to pellets was used as fuel for power plants. “Have you carried out any study on how much coal will you save if you use pellets, we want to know?” the bench asked.