India pushes back deadline for coal-fired utilities to adopt new emission norms – Times of India

CHENNAI: India has pushed back deadlines for coal-fired energy crops to adopt new emission norms by up to three years, and allowed utilities that miss the new goal to proceed working after paying a penalty, in accordance to a authorities discover.
India had initially set a 2017 deadline for thermal energy crops to set up Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) models that reduce emissions of sulphur dioxides. But that was postponed to various deadlines for totally different areas, ending in 2022.
The new order dated April 1 from the surroundings ministry says crops close to populous areas and the capital New Delhi can have to comply by 2022, whereas utilities in much less polluting areas have up to 2025 to comply or retire models.
Operators of coal-fired utilities together with state-run NTPC Ltd and trade teams representing non-public firms comparable to Reliance Power and Adani Power have lengthy been lobbying for dilution of the air pollution requirements, citing excessive compliance prices.
The newest discover follows strategies from the energy ministry that crops be given deadlines to adopt norms in keeping with the severity of air pollution within the area the place they’re situated.
A job power can be constituted by the Central Pollution Control Board to categorise crops in three classes “on the basis of their location to comply with the emission norms”, the surroundings ministry stated in its order.
In case of non-compliance, a penalty of up to Rs 0.20 ($0.0027) can be levied for each unit of electrical energy produced.
The energy ministry stated in January {that a} “graded action plan” may assist keep away from quick improve in energy costs in numerous comparatively clear areas of India and keep away from pointless burden on energy utilities and shoppers.
Indian cities have some of the world’s most polluted air.
Thermal energy firms, which produce three-fourths of the nation’s electrical energy, account for some 80% of its industrial emissions of particulate matter, sulphur- and nitrous-oxides, which trigger lung illnesses, acid rain and smog.