Environment Ministry sets new deadlines for thermal power plants to meet emission norms
The Environment Ministry has amended rules allowing thermal power plants within 10 kilometres of the National Capital Region (NCR) and in cities with more than 10 lakh population to comply with new emission norms by the end of 2022, according to official notification.
A task force will be constituted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to “categorise thermal power plants (TPPs) in three categories on the basis of their location”, the ministry said in the notification dated April 1.
Also, TPP units in “non-attainment cities” and those within 10 kilometres of critically polluted areas are required to meet the emission norms by December 31, 2023.
Non-attainment cities are those which have consistently failed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The CPCB has identified 124 such cities.
Coal-fired power plants in the rest of the areas have to comply with the new standards by December 31, 2024, according to the notification.
