The saga of regulating India’s thermal power emissions

India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has extended the deadline for thermal power plants to comply with sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission norms by three years. The revised deadline is now December 31, 2027, despite the original target of December 31, 2024, and the reasons for this extension have not been provided. This extension marks the latest development in a long-running saga regarding India’s thermal power plants' compliance with air pollution norms.

Revised SO2 Emission Norms and Debate on Compliance:

• Initial Emission Norms: In December 2015, MoEFCC introduced stricter emission norms for thermal plants, focusing on SO2, particulate matter, and other emissions. The deadline for compliance was initially set for December 2017, with the norms aligning closely with international standards.
• Debate Over Implementation: The debate shifted from meeting emission norms to the feasibility of using Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) technology for SO2 reduction, with discussions focused on long gestation periods and high installation costs for FGDs, even though FGDs were not mandatory in the norms.
• Conflicting Views on SO2 Emissions: Various bodies, including the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and NITI Aayog, questioned the relevance of strict SO2 norms due to Indian coal’s lower sulphur content. Some studies argued that SO2 emissions might not significantly impact air quality and should not be prioritized over particulate emissions.

Delays and Financial Implications:

• Repeated Extension of Deadlines: The MoEFCC has repeatedly delayed the compliance deadlines, with the latest extension pushing the deadline for SO2 norms to December 31, 2027. This marks the fourth revision of the deadlines, creating inconsistency in the enforcement of pollution control standards.
• Cost of Compliance Passed to Consumers: To alleviate the financial burden on thermal plants, electricity regulators allowed the costs of FGD installation to be passed on to consumers, irrespective of whether the emission norms were met. This approach ensures that electricity consumers bear the cost of unutilized FGD equipment.
• Unused Equipment and Environmental Impact: As a result of the delayed compliance timeline, many plants with FGDs may not operate them, leading to consumers paying for equipment that remains unused. This delay in using pollution control equipment will prevent local communities from experiencing the benefits of cleaner air in the near future.

Practice Question:

Q. Critically analyze the reasons behind the repeated extension of the deadline for thermal plants to meet sulphur dioxide emission norms in India, and discuss its environmental, health, and financial implications.