Context:
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has issued another extension for thermal power plants (TPPs) to comply with Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) emission norms.
Background of the News:
• In December 2015, the MoEF&CC implemented India’s first emission norms for SO2, NOx and mercury control, acknowledging the significant impact of coal-fired power plants on pollution levels, both directly and through secondary particulate formation.
- Coal-fired power plants are among the largest contributors to air pollution, emitting particulate matter (PM), SO2, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and heavy metals.
• The notification mandated the installation of SO2 control technologies, such as flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems, within two years, with compliance deadlines set for December 2017.
• Progress has been unsatisfactory, and subsequent extensions have only pushed deadlines further away.
• A notification in December 2024 announced that the deadlines for SO2 compliance for non-retiring TPPs (coal-based power plants that are not being retired or repurposed before 2030) were revised again.
- Category A (within 10 km of NCR/City above 1 million population) now has a deadline of December 31, 2027;
- Category B (within a 10 km radius of critically polluted areas) by December 31, 2028, and
- Category C (all remaining plants) by December 31, 2029.
Key challenges in implementation:
- A lack of coordination and clear communication between the Ministry of Power, MoEF&CC and TPPs regarding FGD requirements has caused widespread confusion.
- CSIR-NEERI (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI)) recently recommended that SO2 emissions from India’s coal-based power plants do not significantly affect ambient air quality and suggested prioritising Particulate Matter (PM) control over SO2.
- Although penalties for non-compliant operations beyond the stipulated time exist, they remain ineffective as deadlines are consistently extended.
