Particulate matter emissions from one unit of the Deen Bandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Project in Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar were about 38.8 times the prescribed limit, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) assessing interim environmental compensation of ₹ 31.46 crore from February 10 to June 15.
The plant belongs to a “highly polluting” category.
It added that the plant was liable for environmental compensation. On June 23, the CPCB said PM emission concentrations from the plant’s Units 1 and 2 were reported to be exceeding the prescribed limit.
The plant has two 300 MW units, each commissioned in April and June 2008. A CPCB team inspected the site on July 28, 2025. The stack monitoring followed on February 10 and 11, 2026. The time limit for complying with emission standards other than sulphur dioxide, which includes PM, lapsed on December 31, 2024. Thermal power plants are among 17 categories of highly polluting industries. The environmental compensation is calculated at ₹ 0.40 per unit of electricity generated during non-compliant operation. The two units together generated 786.61 million units in that period, according to the National Power Portal. That works out to ₹ 31.46 crore.
Both units were operational during the visits. The CPCB called the figure interim. The charge applies until another stack test and a compliance report.
The CPCB said the plant falls under Category C of the classification of thermal plants. It said the period of non-compliance “shall vary” and that the compensation will depend on the plant’s compliance.
