Lok Sabha Question No. 222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Emission of anthropogenic sulphur dioxide
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas, Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 222.

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2021

## Emission of anthropogenic sulphur dioxide

## 222. MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

## SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  India  is  the  world's  largest  emitter  of anthropogenic Sulphur dioxide from coal burning that contributes to air pollution;
- (b) if  so,  the  steps  being  taken  by  Government  to  decrease  the  emission  of  the abovementioned harmful gas;
- (c) whether  India  has  flue-gas  desulphurization  technology  installed  in  the  coal  plants which would help in reduction of air pollution; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) & (b):It is a fact that coal basedthermal power plants are major source ofanthropogenic sulphur dioxide (SO2) which contributes to air pollution. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) vide its notification dated 07.12.2015 has stipulated norms for emission of SO2 from Thermal Power Plants apart  from  other  pollutants.  There  was  no  SO2 emission  norms  for  coal  based  Thermal Power  Plants  prior  to  this  notification  and  regulated  through  stipulating  the  height  of discharge/emittance  through  fixing  height  of  chimney.  The  aforesaid  notification  dated 07.12.2015 was to be implemented within two years from the notification i.e. 07.12.2017. Subsequently  in  December  2017  after  taking  consideration  various  factors  the  timeline was  extended  on  case  to  case  basis  from  year  2018  to  2022.  The  implementation  of control measures by thermal power plants were further affected by the disruptions caused by covid-19 pandemic. Having comprehensive analysis including demand-supply aspect, availability  of  resources,  logistics  and  limitation  on  supplies  of  Pollution  Control components,  it  was  decided  to  grant  extension  of  timeline  for  implementation  of  SO2 dated 07.12.2017  was  made  on  31.03.2021.  The  rationale  of  new  timelines  was  based  on

emission norms by TPPs  and accordingly, amendment  to the notification environment considerations.

## (c) &(d):

Two of the commonly acceptable technology for flue-gas desulphurization of coal based thermal power plants (Wet scrubbing (WS) in alkaline media and Dry Sorbent InjectionDSI) are installed in India. As per latest status, 16 units are on wet FGD and 4 units on DSI technology installed for de-sulphurisation of flue gas from coal based thermal power plants. State wise list of these 20 units is enclosed at Annexure I.

## Annexure I State-wise list of wet scrubbing/DSI based FGD systems

| Sr. No.   | State          |   No. of Units | Name of TPP &unit Nos.                        | SO2 emission control technology   |
|-----------|----------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1         | Gujarat        |             03 | Adani power Mundra TPS( Unit-7,8,9)           | Wet Scrubber                      |
| 2         | Haryana        |             02 | Mahatma Gandhi TPS , CLP Jhajhar ( Unit- 1&2) | Wet Scrubber                      |
| 3         | Madhya Pradesh |             01 | Vindhyachal TPS, NTPC Ltd. ( Unit-13)         | Wet Scrubber                      |
| 4         | Maharashtra    |             08 | JSW Ratnagiri TPS( Unit-1,2,3,4)              | Wet Scrubber                      |
| 4         | Maharashtra    |             08 | Adani Power Dahanu TPS( Unit-1&2)             | Wet Scrubber                      |
| 4         | Maharashtra    |             08 | Tata Power Trombey TPS( Unit 5&8)             | Wet Scrubber                      |
| 5         | Tamilnadu      |             02 | IL&FC TNPCL ( Unit-1&2)                       | Wet Scrubber                      |
| 6         | Uttar Pradesh  |             04 | NCTPS Dadri, NTPC Ltd. ( Unit-1,2,3,4)        | DSI                               |
|           |                |             20 |                                               |                                   |

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