Nagpur, India: The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has approved the expansion of the 2x660 MW Supercritical Thermal Power Plant at Koradi. The new coal-based units will be constructed within the existing premises of the Koradi Thermal Power Plant, operated by Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MahaGenco).

As part of this plan, MahaGenco will shut down six outdated power units and replace them with two modern supercritical units. The expansion proposal, which surfaced in May last year, has faced strong opposition from environmentalists, who argue it will significantly increase pollution levels in and around Nagpur.

MahaGenco has labelled the project as an expansion of the existing plant, but environmental activists question why the new units are being concentrated in Nagpur, rather than at sites where older plants are being retired. They warn that while the new units will match the output of the six retired ones, pollution levels in the area will effectively double, impacting both urban and rural regions.

At a public hearing organized by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) last year, residents and activists raised concerns about Koradi's existing pollution issues, including widespread fly ash contamination. They noted that ash from the current plant already blankets trees and plants, and has polluted nearby water bodies. Farmers in the region are struggling with crop losses, and residents have faced health hazards due to the mixing of fly ash with local water sources. The Kanhan River, which supplies water to Nagpur, has been affected multiple times, particularly during the monsoon season.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 10,625 crore, which includes loan interest and financing charges. The new units will be built on land previously occupied by retired 4x120 MW and 210 MW units at Koradi. However, the project will require the clearing of 168 acres of land, resulting in the felling of thousands of trees—a move that has sparked further protests from environmental activists.

Despite opposition, MahaGenco has already awarded a contract for land clearance, signalling that the expansion will proceed as planned.