State-Run Parli Thermal Power Station Ordered to Stop Operation of 2 Units over Pollution

Why It Matters

The directive highlights escalating regulatory pressure on coal‑fired plants, threatening supply reliability while underscoring the cost of non‑compliance for utilities and investors.

Key Takeaways

• CPCB orders shutdown of units 6 and 8
• PM emissions exceed 50 mg/Nm³ limit
• Operating consent expired December 2024
• No continuous emission monitoring installed
• Ash‑dyke safety audits missing since 2019

Pulse Analysis

India’s coal‑fired power sector faces heightened scrutiny as the Central Pollution Control Board moves to enforce stricter environmental standards. The shutdown order for Parli Thermal Power Station’s units 6 and 8 follows a decade‑long series of notices, inspections, and non‑compliance findings. By mandating online continuous emission monitoring and valid operating consents, regulators aim to curb particulate matter that contributes to poor air quality in Maharashtra’s Beed district. The plant’s failure to meet these requirements, coupled with illegal effluent discharges, illustrates the widening gap between legacy infrastructure and modern environmental expectations.

Beyond the immediate operational impact, the closure underscores financial and reputational risks for state‑run utilities. Units 6, 7 and 8 were running despite a 2018 closure direction, and their PM concentrations—87, 85 and 91 mg/Nm³—far surpassed the 50 mg/Nm³ threshold. The absence of dust suppression at coal yards and neglected ash‑dyke safety audits since 2019 further expose the plant to potential fines, litigation, and forced retrofits. For investors, such regulatory breaches signal heightened due‑diligence requirements and may affect credit ratings or future financing for similar assets.

The Parli case reflects a broader shift in India’s energy policy, where environmental compliance is becoming a prerequisite for continued operation. As the government pushes for cleaner energy mixes and tighter emission caps, coal plants must accelerate upgrades or risk curtailment. Stakeholders—including policymakers, plant operators, and financiers—should monitor CPCB actions closely, as they set precedents that could accelerate the de‑commissioning of underperforming units and drive capital toward renewable alternatives. Aligning operational practices with evolving standards will be essential for maintaining grid stability while meeting climate commitments.

State-run Parli Thermal Power Station ordered to stop operation of 2 units over pollution

Source: PTI · Published on Feb 11, 2026 at 01:23 PM IST

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked state authorities to immediately stop the operation of units 6 and 8 of Parli Thermal Power Station (PTPS) in Maharashtra’s Beed district, an official said.

The CPCB wrote to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) chairman on February 5, stating that a notice had been issued in July 2015 to the state‑run PTPS for the installation of online continuous emission and effluent monitoring systems.

In 2018, a CPCB team inspected the power station and observed non‑compliances, including very high concentrations of PM emissions from units 6 and 8 and operation for a long time without a valid consent from MPCB.

In May 2018, a closure direction was issued by the CPCB. Later, the PTPS was asked to submit compliance reports as the power station requested the central body to revoke the closure direction. The compliance report was apparently submitted in May 2025.

During an inspection held in May 2025, units 6, 7 and 8 were found operational despite CPCB’s closure directions. The consent to operate of these units had expired in December 2024.

The PM emission concentrations from units 6, 7 and 8 were 87 mg/Nm³, 85 mg/Nm³ and 91 mg/Nm³ respectively, exceeding the prescribed limit of 50 mg/Nm³.

The inspection team also found constant leakages from the raw effluent pump house, which flowed into a nearby drain. Untreated sewage and ash‑flow were also directly disposed of in the natural drain, the CPCB letter stated.

PTPS had not conducted the annual mandatory third‑party safety audits of its ash dykes since 2019. The ash dyke areas were accessible to illegal excavators, which can lead to serious environmental hazards. Mismanagement was also observed in the storage and management of used waste oil.

No dust suppression system was provided to contain dust at the coal storage yards, the letter said.

The MPCB should take immediate necessary action to ensure compliance with the earlier directions, including immediate closure of the operation of units 6 and 8, the letter added.

Officials at the power station denied that they had received any such letter. “Once we get it, we will give a reply,” said a senior official.