New emission norms: 70% of India’s coal-fired power plants won’t meet 2022 deadline, report says

CHENNAI: India’s coal-fired power plants must meet stringent new emission norms by 2022, which were set in December 2015 by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC). But a new study report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says with barely two years to go before the deadline hits them, almost 70% of the plants will not meet the emission standards.
‘Coal-based power norms: Where do we stand today’, was released on Thursday at an online event anchored by CSE director general Sunita Narain. The study presents a comprehensive assessment of the progress in implementation of the environmental norms for coal-based thermal power plants.
“Our assessment finds that even after seven years since the notification and even after the agreed five-year extension given to this sector in 2017, most of the total installed coal-fired capacity will not be compliant with the crucial sulphur dioxide (SO2) standards by 2022,” said Narain.
“Coal-fired power plants are some of the most polluting industries in the country. They account for over 60% of the total particulate matter (PM) emissions from all industry, as well as 45% of the SO2, 30% of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and over 80% of the mercury emissions. Therefore, even as we continue using coal, India’s thermal power sector must clean up its act. This is absolutely non-negotiable,” added Narain.