Gupta Energy Private Limited’s 2X270 MW coal based thermal power project at Ghugus, in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra is stuck up due to environment issues. Chandrapur where the proposed thermal power plant is to be located is one of the 43 critically polluted areas identified by the Central Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Environment and Forest has imposed temporary moratorium on consideration of projects for environmental clearances for projects coming up there. In September MoEF considered lifting of Moratorium from some areas based on the assessment of Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index (CEPI) score. However, MoEF found that Chandrapur has not shown decreasing trend on the CEPI score, and as such decided to continue the temporary moratorium in the area.
Gupta Energy which has achieved all milestones related to the project within the validity period except for environmental clearance is now left with no other option but to wait till the moratorium is lifted.
540 MW power project at Ghugus is the second phase of the project. In the first phase, Gupta Energy had set up 2 x 60 MW Thermal Power Plant which uses washery rejects as fuel. The first phase was completed in 2012.
