The term "biomass" encompasses diverse fuels derived from timber, agriculture and food processing wastes or from

fuel crops that are specifically grown or reserved for electricity generation. Biomass fuel can also include sewage sludge and animal manure. Some biomass fuels are derived from trees. Given the capacity of trees to regenerate, these fuels are considered renewable. Burning crop residues, sewage or manure - all wastes that are continually generated by society -- to generate electricity may offer environmental benefits in the form of preserving precious landfill space OR may be grown and harvested in ways that cause environmental harm. At present, most biomass power plants burn lumber, agricultural or construction/demolition wood wastes. Direct Combustion power plants burn the biomass fuel directly in boilers that supply steam for the same kind of steam-electric generators used to burn fossil fuels. With biomass gasification, biomass is converted into a gas - methane - that can then fuel steam generators, combustion turbines, combined cycle technologies or fuel cells. The primary benefit of biomass gasification, compared to direct combustion, is that extracted gasses can be used in a variety of power plant configurations. In terms of capacity, biomass power plants represent the second largest amount of renewable energy in the nation. Because biomass technologies use combustion processes to produce electricity, they can generate electricity at any time, unlike wind and most solar technologies, which only produce when the wind is blowing or sun is shining. Biomass power plants currently represent 11,000 MW - the second largest amount of renewable energy in the nation.

What are the environmental impacts? Whether combusting directly or engaged in gasification, biomass resources do generate air emissions. These emissions vary depending upon the precise fuel and technology used. If wood is the primary biomass resource, very little SO2 comes out of the stack. NOx emissions vary significantly among combustion facilities depending on their design and controls. Some biomass power plants show a relatively high NOx emission rate per kilowatt hour generated if compared to other combustion technologies. This high NOx rate, an effect of the high nitrogen content of many biomass fuels, is one of the top air quality concerns associated with biomass. Carbon monoxide (CO) is also emitted - sometimes at levels higher than those for coal plants. Biomass plants also release carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas. However, the cycle of growing, processing and burning biomass recycles CO2 from the atmosphere. If this cycle is sustained, there is little or no net gain in atmospheric CO2. Given that short rotation woody crops (i.e., fast growing woody plant types) can be planted, matured and harvested in shorter periods of time than natural growth forests, the managed production of biomass fuels may recycle CO2 in one-third less time than natural processes. Biomass power plants also divert wood waste from landfills, which reduces the productions and atmospheric release of methane, another potent greenhouse gas.

Another air quality concern associated with biomass plants is particulates. These emissions can be readily controlled through conventional technologies. To date, no biomass facilities have installed advanced particulate emission controls. Still, most particulate emissions are relatively large in size. Their impacts upon human health remain unclear. The collection of biomass fuels can have significant environmental impacts. Harvesting timber and growing agricultural products for fuel requires large volumes to be collected, transported, processed and stored. Biomass fuels may be obtained from supplies of clean, uncontaminated wood that otherwise would be landfilled or from sustainable harvests. In both of these fuel collection examples, the net environmental plusses of biomass are significant when compared to fossil fuel collection alternatives. On the other hand, the collection, processing and combustion of biomass fuels may cause environmental problems if, for example, the fuel source contains toxic contaminants, agricultural waste handling pollutes local water resources, or burning biomass deprives local ecosystems of nutrients that forest or agricultural waste may otherwise provide.

Sh. J.K. Sharma, General Manager, M/s Universal Bio-Mass Energy Pvt. Ltd. welcome the panel members and people from adjoining Towns/Villages who came for the public hearing of 14.5 MW capacity Bio-mass based Independent power plant proposed t o be established by M/s Universal Bio-Mass Energy Pvt. Ltd. at Village Channu, Tehsil Lambi, Distt. Muktsar. Thereafter, Sh. Rajiv Garg, Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Head Office, Patiala apprised the public about the requirement of conducting the public hearing before grant of environmental clearance as p e r the provisions of EIA notfication no.1533 (E) dtd.14.9.2006 issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Then, he requested the representative of the industry t o elaborate the main features of the project and the Environmental Impact Assessment study report. Sh. Yash Pal Jain, partner M/s Alliance Engineers, Passi Road, Patiala, the consulting firm engaged by M/s Universal Bio-Mass Energy Pvt. Ltd. f o r conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment study f o r this project brought out the details of the project before the public as under:REQUIRMENTS OF THE PROJECT Total land available with the company f o r the setting up of Bio-mass based independent power plant is 12 acres. The industry will provide 70 TPH capacity boiler using agro waste as fuel. The consumption of agro waste f o r the boiler will be appox. 17 MT/Hr. The fuel required f o r the proposed power plant (i.e. cotton stalk/mustard stalk/wood chips etc.) is available in the 50 Km radius. The total water requirement of the project is estimated t o be 4050 m3/day, which will be taken from canal through pipeline. METHODOLOGY FOR PREPARATION OF EIA STUDY:-

A map of the area around the proposed project f o r 10 km radius was prepared and the location of various towns, villages and other important places was marked on the same. The prospective problems likely t o be caused due t o installation of the project were identfied. Ambient a i r quality monitoring of the impact area was caried out at different locations t o adjudge the level of a i r quality of the area and the likely impact from the project. Water samples and soil samples were also collected from various points in the area for analysis. Impact assessment were caried out indicating various sources of Air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution etc. likely t o be caused by the proposed project and environmental management plan has been prepared accordingly.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MANAGEMENT PLAN:AIR ENVIRONMENT The emissions of concern from the power plant are suspended particulate matter (SPM), SO2 and NOx. During the study period, SPM concentrations have ranged from 106 Bg/m3 t o 214 Bg/m3. The high range of variations in concentrations of SPM is because of the harvesting season during the monitoring period. SO2 concentrations at various ambient a i r quality monitoring stations have ranged from 3.6 Bg/m3 t o 14.7 Bg/m3. NOx level in the ambient a i r at different ambient a i r quality monitoring locations have ranged from 6.9 Bg/m3 t o 22.8 Bg/m3. AIR POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES : M/s Universal Bio-Mass Energy Pvt. Ltd., Village Channu, Tehsil Lambi, Distt. Muktsar will install Electro Static Precipitators as a i r pollution control device f o r 14.5 MW Biomass based independent power plant. The Electro Static Precipitators will be designed t o give a final outlet particulate concentration not exceeding 100 mg/Nm 3 (12 % CO2) against the prescribed limit of 150 mg/Nm 3. Chimney of adequate stack height of more than 46 mtrs. will be provided f o r dispersion of flue gases. A thick green belt will be provided along the periphery of the proposed power plant. NOISE ENVIRONMENT The major noise generating sources are turbine generators. The steam turbine would be housed in a closed building which will considerably reduce the noise levels. The ambient noise level at plant boundary will comply the National Ambient Noise Standards. The green belt provided along the periphery of the industry will act as noise barier.

WAT E R E N V I R O N M E N T

The total water requirement of 4050 m 3/day is estimated which will be taken from nearby canal through pipeline f o r the proposed power plant. Out of 4050 m 3/day water, about 4000 m3/day of water will be used as make up for cooling towers, about 36 m 3/day water will be used as make up for boiler feed through DM plant, 10 m3/day for DM plant re-generation and 5 m3/day will be used as domestic requirements. The total effluent generation is estimated as 280 m3/day from cooling and DM plant re-generation, which will be treated in the effluent treatment plant. After treatment, 42.5 m 3/day of effluent will be re-used f o r ash quenching /bio-mass spray and remaining effluent will be discharged onto land f o r irigation in the green belt of the plant. The domestic effluent @ 4.5 m3/day will be discharged onto land f o r irigation after treatment in septic tank. LAND ENVIRONMENT The proposed 14.5 MW bio-mass based independent power plant including the ash disposal area will be located in about 12 acres. The site is free from habitation and hence no displacement of people is envisaged. Total ash generation is estimated t o be about 25 MT/day. The project proponent has earmarked sufficient area f o r onsite storage of ash f o r a period of 120 days. The ash will be disposed off as a soil condtioner, f o r making hollow bricks and f o r using in cement production. SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS The project will augment alarming power deficit situation in the state and local production near t o consumption point will decrease huge transmission losses. The project will utlize waste bio-mass as fuel, which, is otherwise, destroyed by uncontrolled burning in the fields causing a i r pollution problems in the area. The management of M/s Universal Bio-Mass Energy Pvt. Ltd. will give preference t o the local people f o r employment. Thereafter, Er. Rajiv Garg, Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board requested the public present in the hearing t o give their comments/views/ suggestions/objections on the project one by one:Following are the queries/ views/ suggestions/objections of the people and replies given by the project proponent/consultant of the project proponent :S. No Name
p

of the

erson

query / p statements o f the erson Questions/

Reply / clarification given by the representatives o f the industry J.K. Sharma, General Manager of the project informed that the lines electricity generated from this plant will be connected t o Sh.

1.

Sh. Khushwinder

He has 3 acres land in village Lambi, adjoining t o village Channu in which the electricity lines from power plant will be crossed

PSEB

grid/station at Gidderbaha which is opposite direction t o village Lambi 2 . Sh. Narinder Singh, Village Jangirana At what rate the electricity generated from this plant will be supplied t o the public? Sh. J.K. Sharma, General Manager of the project generated from this plant will be sold t o the Govt./ PSEB and the industry cannot sell the electricity directly t o the public. 3. Sh. Boota Singh, Village Lalbai Whether, the residents of the nearby area will get the employment in this project? Sh. J.K. Sharma, General Manager of the project informed that centres will be established in the nearby villages f o r purchase of agro waste and employment will be given t o the people on the basis of their educational Sh. Yash Pal Jain, consultant of the company informed that Electro Static Precipitator, which is most efficient a i r pollution control device will be installed t o control the flue emissions of boiler conforming t o the emission standards <100 mg/Nm3 of SPM and as such the crops adjoining t o this plant will never be effected.

Sh. 4.

Kuljeet Singh,

5.

Sh.

Gurtek Singh, Village Lalbai

Whether, the crops will be effected in the adjoining area due t o the smoke / flue emissions from this project?

Sh. Rajiv Grag, Environmental Engineer asked the public if any one else want t o ask any question but no one came forward. Thereafter, he requested the public present in the hearing t o confirm by raising their hands as t o whether they approve the establishment of Biomass based independent power plant project at this site, in response t o this more than 95 % of the people present in the public hearing raised their hands and gave their consent f o r the establishment of this project.

The panel members observed that the participants of the public hearing have no objection from environmental angle f o r setting up of the said project at the present site, provided the company will comply with the provisions of the law for control of environmental pollution. The hearing ended with vote of thanks t o all the panel members and the public present in the hearing.

Sh. Varun Roojam, IAS Additional Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar