The Ministry of Power in India has made a proposal to delay the adoption of new emissions standards by coal-powered plants. These new regulations were initially scheduled to come into effect from 2017, but this has now been postponed until 2022. The reasoning behind this change is due to what the Ministry has termed an “unworkable time schedule”, which they believe could burden utility companies and result in higher electricity costs for consumers.
Background on Emission Norms
The proposed emission norms are focused on the installation of Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) units in thermal power plants. FGD units are designed to remove sulphur dioxide, a harmful pollutant, from the exhaust fumes produced by these power plants. This reduction of sulphur dioxide emissions has far-reaching benefits from both an environmental and health perspective.
The Ministry of Power’s Proposed Plan
The Ministry has recommended a “graded action plan”. This would involve evaluating different geographical regions based on their pollution severity levels. Locations with the worst pollution, referred to as Region 1, would receive the strictest emission control requirements. The least polluted areas (Region 5) would have more lenient rules. This differential approach is aimed at maintaining uniform air quality across the country, rather than imposing equal emission restrictions on all thermal power plants irrespective of their environmental impact.
Sulfur Dioxide Pollution Origin and Impact
The main source of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) pollution is the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities. Other smaller contributors include vehicular emissions and natural sources like volcanoes. SO2 can lead to respiratory problems in humans, with those suffering from asthma, particularly children, being the most susceptible. High concentrations of SO2 in the environment can also contribute to the formation of particulate matter (PM), a kind of air pollutant detrimental to both human health and the environment.
The Situation in India
In 2019, India recorded a 6% decline in sulfur dioxide emissions compared to 2018. This represents the largest reduction in such emissions over a four-year period. However, India is still the largest emitter of SO2 globally. To address this, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change introduced limits on SO2 emissions for coal power stations in 2015. In addition, an Air Quality sub-index has been established for eight pollutants, including SO2, for which short-term (up to 24-hour) ambient air quality standards have been prescribed.
