Environment Ministry sets new deadlines for thermal power plants to meet emission norms

The union environment ministry has extended timelines for complying emission norms by coal-based power plants by three to five years, and fixed penalties for non-compliance as against the earlier mandate of closure.

Under the previous timeline, all coal-based power plants were to be in compliance by December 2022 or face closure. Giving in to demands by the power ministry, the environment ministry has also set a very low penalty rate for non-compliance. Environmentalists said the rate of penalties will neither serve as a deterrent nor provide the funds for taking remedial action to deal with the impacts.