**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Starred Question No. 203 raised in Lok Sabha regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the Thermal Power Plant at Chausa, Bihar. It provides information on the Government's awareness, key findings of the EIA, potential effects on agriculture, and preventive measures implemented. The information is due for reply on 15.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **EIA and Environmental Clearance:**
* A detailed EIA study was conducted on the Super Critical Buxar Thermal Power Plant (BTPP) [2x660 MW] at Chausa, Buxar, Bihar, as part of the Environmental Clearance (EC) process.
* The EIA included site-specific studies (baseline data, hydrological assessments, socio-economic studies, risk assessment, disaster management).
* The EC was granted on February 28th, 2017, with necessary general and specific conditions.
* **Environmental Impact and Mitigation:**
* The EIA involved environmental impacts of the project including impact on ambient air, water, noise, land use, soil, flora and fauna etc.
* The Environment Management Plan (EMP) addresses impacts through mitigation measures (e.g., fugitive emissions control using bag filters and water sprinkling, Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), acoustic enclosures, 100% fly ash utilization, advanced emission control systems).
* Hydrological assessment by IIT Roorkee, reported by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) showed no significant impact on agricultural land, crops, soil quality, and groundwater levels.
* **Technology and Pollution Control:**
* BTPP uses Super Critical Technology to reduce air emissions.
* Implements pollution control systems like high-efficiency Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP), Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD), and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR).
* Features a 275-meter stack height, dust suppression, wastewater reuse (ETP/STP), Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), dry fly ash handling, and green belt development.
* Continuous online monitoring of air quality and stack emissions.
* **Project Status and Compliance:**
* Commercial Operation Date (COD) for the first 660 MW unit was achieved on November 14th, 2025. The second unit of 660 MW is under progress.
* Compliance with environmental safeguards (EC and Consent to Operate (CTO)) is ensured by MoEF&CC (Patna sub-office) and BSPCB.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers**
* **Impact:** The assessment indicates no significant adverse impact on agricultural land, crops, soil quality, groundwater levels, or river-based irrigation systems.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required based on the current assessment, but continued monitoring and adherence to mitigation measures are necessary to ensure long-term protection.
**Stakeholder: Environment**
* **Impact:** Air quality, water resources, soil, and biodiversity could be affected. Mitigation measures, including emission controls and waste management, are in place to reduce the effects.
* **Action Required:** The government, through MoEF&CC and BSPCB, must continue to monitor and enforce compliance with environmental safeguards to protect air and water quality.
**Stakeholder: Project Proponent (SJVN Thermal Private Limited)**
* **Impact:** The project proponent is responsible for implementing the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and complying with the conditions set forth in the Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Operate (CTO).
* **Action Required:** SJVN Thermal Private Limited must continue to implement mitigation measures, monitor environmental parameters, and report compliance to MoEF&CC and BSPCB.
Key Entities Referenced
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): A study to assess the environmental impacts of the thermal power plant, which includes environmental impact and mitigation measures.
Super Critical Buxar Thermal Power Plant (BTPP): Thermal power plant (2x660 MW) under assessment regarding its environmental impacts.
Environment Clearance (EC): Regulatory approval needed for the thermal power plant; part of the environmental impact assessment process.
Bihar: The state where the Thermal Power Plant at Chausa (Buxar) is located.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Ministry responsible for overseeing environmental regulations and assessing the environmental impact of the thermal power plant.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 203
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
EIA Report on Thermal Power Plant at Chausa, Bihar
*203. SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the assessment of the environmental impact of the
thermal power plant at Chausa (Buxar in Bihar) such as air pollution, dust emissions, fly ash
dispersion, water use and effluent disposal;
(b) if so, the key findings or a summary of the detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
report;
(c) whether the said power plant operations are likely to affect farmer's agricultural land, crops,
soil quality, groundwater levels and river-based irrigation systems adversely;
(d) if so, the details of scientific studies conducted till date; and
(e) the details of the preventive measures and safely provisions, such as fly ash management,
dust control system and others implemented by the Government to protect farmers and the
environment?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
***STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 203 RAISED BY SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH REGARDING EIA
REPORT ON THERMAL POWER PLANT AT CHAUSA, BIHAR DUE FOR REPLY ON
15.12.2025.
(a) to (d): The Super Critical Buxar Thermal Power Plant (BTPP) [2x660 MW] of M/s. SJVN
Thermal Private Limited at Village Chausa, District Buxar, Bihar has undergone detailed
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study as a part of Environment Clearance (EC) process,
which included site specific studies such as baseline data assessment, hydrological studies for area-
drainage, socio-economic studies, risk assessment with mitigation measures and disaster
management plan. The EIA report, inter-alia, involved environmental impacts of the project
including impact on ambient air, water, noise, land use, soil, flora and fauna etc. The corresponding
Environment Management Plan (EMP) duly addressed the impacts through necessary mitigation
measures such as fugitive emissions control in the coal crusher units and coal storage silos by bag
filters, water sprinkling in dust prone areas, adoption of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), provision of
acoustic enclosures for turbines and generators, provision for 100% fly ash utilization and installation
of advanced emission control systems etc. The project was duly appraised by the Expert Appraisal
Committee and Environmental Clearance (EC) was granted on 28th February, 2017 after
incorporating the necessary general and specific conditions comprising necessary environmental
safeguards. There is no significant impact on agricultural land, crops, soil quality, groundwater levels
as reported by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) based on the hydrological
assessment done by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee. At present, the project has been
implemented and Commercial Operation Date (COD) for the first unit of 660 MW was achieved on
14th November, 2025 and for the second unit of 660 MW is under progress.
(e): The BTPP adopts Super Critical Technology to reduce the air emissions and pollution control
systems such as High-efficiency Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) for Particulate Matter (PM), Flue
Gas Desulphurization (FGD) for Sulphur Dioxide (SO ), Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) for
2
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), 275 meters stack height for wider dispersion of air pollutants, dust
suppression in pollution-prone areas, reuse of wastewater after treatment by Effluent Treatment Plant
(ETP) and Sewage Treatment Plant, Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), dry fly ash handling system
through storage silos with Bag Filters and green belt development all along the periphery of the plant
boundary followed by continuous online monitoring of Ambient Air Quality and stack emissions
through dedicated Environment Management Cell (EMC) of the project proponent. The compliance
of the environmental safeguards prescribed in the EC and Consent to Operate (CTO) is ensured by
the Sub-office of MoEF&CC at Patna and BSPCB, respectively.
*****