The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment

¶ 01 The answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a)(i) The North Western Provincial Environmental Authority has informed that no recent complaints have been recorded regarding environmental issues arising from coal burning at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.

¶ 03 (ii) The Plant operates under an Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) issued to maintain operations within approved standards and to control environmental impacts. Post-monitoring and required analyses are carried out to verify compliance with EPL conditions.

¶ 04 According to observations of the Central Environmental Authority, since the EPL has been issued by the North Western Provincial Environmental Authority, the legal mandate to control any environmental issue arising from the Plant lies with that Authority. Accordingly, the following measures are being implemented:

¶ 05 - An expert panel was established, with the intervention of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, to study impacts on ambient air quality, groundwater quality and the marine environment. - As per a signed MoU: • Installation of wind barriers; • Appointment of a specialized sub-committee to study physical, bio-physical and social impacts, meeting every six months to review progress; • Installation of permanent ambient air quality monitoring stations. - Electrostatic Precipitators (for fly ash) and a Flue Gas Desulfurizer (for SO2 control) have been installed and are operated under proper control. - National Water Supply and Drainage Board monitors groundwater quality. - National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) studies aquatic life impacts. - Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) studies marine environmental impacts. - Certified institutions have tested groundwater quality, stack emissions, ambient air quality, fugitive particulate matter, noise levels and treated industrial effluent; results are within relevant standards.

¶ 06 (b) Not applicable.