Context:

The Union Environment Ministry has introduced a revised framework for thermal power plants to meet sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emission norms, categorizing plants into three types based on location.

Background

SO₂ is a harmful gas produced from coal combustion, contributing to air pollution and the formation of secondary pollutants.

·        In 2015, India introduced SO2 emission norms for coal and lignite plants, requiring the installation of flue gas desulphurization (FGD) systems.

·        Due to high costs and operational challenges, timelines for compliance have been extended multiple times.

·        Now, the plants retiring before December 2030 are exempt if they file an undertaking.

Key Points of the Revised Framework:

Classification of Plants:

·        Category A: Plants within 10 km of Delhi-NCR or cities with over 1 million population; must comply by December 2027.

·        Category B: Plants within 10 km of critically polluted areas; assessed case-by-case.

·        Category C: Other plants; completely exempted from meeting SO2 norms but must comply with stack height criteria.

Exemptions:

Plants retiring before December 2030 are exempt if they submit an undertaking

Category C plants are exempt from SO2 norms but need to meet stack height criteria by December 31, 2029.

Cost and Impact:

·        Estimated ₹2.54 lakh crore needed for nationwide retrofitting of coal-based capacity with FGD devices.

·        Plants continuing beyond 2030 without compliance will pay ₹0.40 per unit of electricity generated as environmental compensation.

Rationale behind the Revised Framework:

The ministry's decision is based on scientific studies, including one by IIT Delhi, which found that sulfate contributes only 0.96% to 5.21% of PM2.5 and 0.57% to 3.67% of PM10 in cities near thermal power plants.

The ministry argues that current exposure levels provide no credible evidence to suggest that SO₂ is a major public health concern under prevailing ambient conditions.

However, there are concerns over the exemptions, that they may undermine efforts to achieve clean air across the country. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has criticized the revised notification, saying it weakens India's clean air ambitions by diluting or removing SO₂ norms for Category B and C thermal power plants.

Implications:

·        Environmental Impact: Possible delay in achieving cleaner air standards, raising concerns among environmentalists.

·        Economic Relief: Reduces financial burden on power producers and ensures energy security.

·        Policy Balance: Reflects a trade-off between sustainability goals and economic feasibility.

·        Future Concerns: May invite criticism for weakening pollution control norms and affect India's climate commitments.

Conclusion

While the revised SO₂ framework aims to offer economic and operational flexibility for India’s thermal power sector, it also underscores the ongoing challenge of aligning industrial development with environmental sustainability. As India continues to navigate this complex terrain, close monitoring of health outcomes and emissions data will be key to ensuring that progress on pollution control is not permanently sidelined.