Lok Sabha Question No. 3039 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Environmental Norms for Coal-based Thermal Power Plants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Jual Oram, Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

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

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3039.

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021

## Environmental Norms for Coal-based Thermal Power Plants

## 3039.   SHRI JUAL ORAM:

DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  has  introduced  revised  environment  norms  for  the  coal-based thermal power plants (TPPs) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether a number of TPPs are yet to comply with the revised environmental standards in place since 2015;
- (c) if so, the details of TPPs which have complied and those yet to comply;
- (d) whether the Ministry keeps extending the deadline for TPPs for complying with these standards  and  if  so,  the  details  for  all  deadline  extensions  given  so  far  along  with reasons for the same;
- (e) whether the Ministry has done an assessment of negative impact on environment and health  of  people  due  to  continued  operation  of  these  TPPs  without  complying  with revised standards; and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  corrective measures taken by these TPPs since the revision of the environmental norms?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)  to  (d):  Ministry  vide  its  notification  dated  31.03.2021  ( Annexure-I )  had  extended  the timeline for compliance of revised standards of 2015 for coal based power plants. As per information submitted by utilities to Central Electricity authority (CEA) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), out of 442 units, 355 units are complying with  PM  norms,  256  units  are  complying  with  NOx  norm  and  68  units  are complying with SO2 emission norms.

The Ministry had notified emission norms on 07.12.2015 for parameters viz. Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Mercury (Hg) and revised the norms for Particulate Matter emission for coal/lignite based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs), which  were  to be implemented  within two years from the notification i.e. 07.12.2017. Subsequently in December 2017 after taking consideration of following factors the timeline was extended on case to case basis from year 2018 to 2022:

- i. Technical challenges such as supply and demand assessment done by CEA;
- ii. The  plan  with  timelines  for  phasing  was  prepared  and  submitted  before Hon'ble Supreme Court, considering supply and demand aspect;
- iii. Market supply condition as limited technology providers are available;
- iv. Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  vide  order  dated  29.07.2020  in  W.P.  (C)  13029  of 1985 has seized the matter on certain emission norms.

The  implementation  of the emission  norms  was  further  affected  by  the  disruptions caused  by  covid-19  pandemic.  Therefore,  it  was  decided  to  grant  extension  of timeline for implementation of emission norms by TPPs and amendment notification was published on 31.03.2021. The rationale of timelines was based on environment considerations.

(e)  and  (f)Ministry  has  not  done  any  assessment  of  impact  on  environment  and  health  of people  due  to  continued  operation  of  TPPs  without  complying  to  revised  standards.  The thermal power plants have taken measures for compliance of revised norms and the progress are at various stages of completion.

*****

<!-- image -->

xxxGIDHxxx xxx GIDE xxx सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-01042021-226335

CG-DL-E-01042021-226335

## ऄसाधारण EXTRAORDINARY

भाग II -खण्  ड 3 -ईप-खण्  ड (i)

PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i)

प्राजधकार से प्रकाजित

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

नइ ददल्ली, बृहस्ट्  पजतवार, ऄप्रैल 1, 2021 /चैत्र 11, 1943 NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021/CHAITRA 11, 1943

## पयाावरण, वन और जलवायु पररवतान मंत्रालय ऄजधसूचना

नइ ददल्ली, 31 माचा, 2021

सा.का.जन.  243(ऄ).-केन्द्रीय  सरकार,  पयाावरण  (संरक्षण)  ऄजधजनयम,  1986  (1986  का  29)  की  धारा  3, धारा 6 और धारा 25 द्वारा प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, पयाावरण (संरक्षण) जनयम, 1986 का और संिोधन करने के  जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती है, ऄथाात् :-

1. (1)   आन जनयमों का संजक्षप्त नाम पयाावरण (संरक्षण) संिोधन जनयम, 2021 है ।
- (2) ये जनयम राजपत्र में प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवृत्त होंगे ।
2. पयाावरण  (संरक्षण)  जनयम,  1986  की  ऄनुसूची-1,  क े   क्रम  संखयांक  25  में,  '*टीपीपी  (आकाइयां)  आस ऄजधसूचना के प्रकािन की तारीख से दो वर्ा क े  भीतर सीमाओं को पूरा करेंगी', ऄक्षरों, कोष्ठकों और िब्दों क े  स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत रखा जाएगा, ऄथाात् :-
4. '*(i)  पयाावरण, वन और जलवायु पररवतान मंत्रालय, जवद्युत मंत्रालय, क े न्द्रीय  जवद्युत  प्राजधकरण (सीइए)  और के न्द्रीय प्रदूर्ण जनयंत्रण बोडा क े  प्रजतजनजधयों से जमलकर बने काया बल का गठन क े न्द्रीय प्रदूर्ण जनयंत्रण बोडा (सीपीसीबी) द्वारा  सारणी-1  में  यथाजवजनर्ददष्ट  तीन  प्रवगों  में  सारणी-1  क े   स्ट्तंभ  (4)  में  यथाजवजनर्ददष्ट  समय  सीमा  क े   भीतर  ईत्सजान मानदंडों क े  ऄनुरुप होने क े  जलए ईनकी ऄवजस्ट्थजत क े  अधार पर तापीय जवद्युत संयत्रों क े  प्रवगीकरण हेतु दकया जाएगा, ऄथाात् :-

सं. 192]

No.  192]

## सारणी-1

| क्र.सं.   | प्रवगा   | ऄवजस्ट्थजत/स्ट्थान                                                                               | ऄनुपालन के जलए समय सीमाएं      | ऄनुपालन के जलए समय सीमाएं   |
|-----------|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|           |          |                                                                                                  | जनवृत्त नहीं होने वाली आकाइयां | जनवृत्त होने वाली आकाइयां   |
| (1)       | (2)      | (3)                                                                                              | (4)                            | (5)                         |
| 1         | प्रवगा क | 10 लाख से ऄजधक जनसंखया वाले राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र या िहरों की 10 दकलोमीटर की पररजध के भीतर 1 | 31 ददसम्बर, 2022 तक            | 31 ददसम्बर, 2022 तक         |
| 2         | प्रवगा ख | गंभीर रूप से प्रदूजर्त क्षेत्रों या गैर प्राजप्त िहरों की 10 दकलोमीटर की पररजध के भीतर 2         | 31 ददसम्बर, 2023 तक            | 31 ददसम्बर, 2025 तक         |
| 3         | प्रवगा ग | प्रवगा क और ख में सजम्मजलत से जभन्न                                                              | 31 ददसम्बर, 2024 तक            | 31 ददसम्बर, 2025 तक         |

- 2  सीपीसीबी द्वारा यथापररभाजर्त ।
- (ii) सारणी-1 के  स्ट्तंभ (5) में यथाजवजनर्ददष्ट तारीख क े  पूवा जनवृत्त होने क े  जलए घोजर्त तापीय जवद्युत संयत्र से, ईस जस्ट्थजत में जहां ऐसे संयंत्र ईनक े  जनवृत्त होने क े  अधार पर छ ू ट क े  जलए सीपीसीबी और सीइए को एक प्रजतज्ञान प्रस्ट्तुत करते हैं, जवजनर्ददष्ट मानदंडों को पूणा करने की ऄपेक्षा नहीं की जाएगी:

परन्द्तु ऐसे संयत्रों से, ईस जस्ट्थजत में जहां ईनका प्रचालन प्रजतज्ञान में यथाजवजनर्ददष्ट तारीख से अगे जारी रहता है, जजनत जवद्युत क े  प्रजत यूजनट पर 0.20 रुपए की दर से पयाावरण प्रजतकर ईद्ग्रहीत दकया जाएगा;

- (iii) जनवृत्त नहीं होने वाले तापीय जवद्युत संयंत्र से, सारणी-1 क े  स्ट्तंभ (4) में यथाजवजनर्ददष्ट तारीख क े  पश्चात्, सारणी-2 में जवजनर्ददष्ट दरों क े  ऄनुसार पयाावरण प्रजतकर ईद्ग्रहीत दकया जाएगा, ऄथाात् :-

सारणी-2

| समय-सीमा से अगे गैर ऄनुपालन प्रचालन   | पयाावरणीय प्रजतकर (रुपए प्रजत यूजनट जजनत जवद्युत)   | पयाावरणीय प्रजतकर (रुपए प्रजत यूजनट जजनत जवद्युत)   | पयाावरणीय प्रजतकर (रुपए प्रजत यूजनट जजनत जवद्युत)   |
|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
|                                       | प्रवगा क                                            | प्रवगा ख                                            | प्रवगा ग                                            |
| 0-180 ददवस                            | 0.10                                                | 0.07                                                | 0.05                                                |
| 181-365 ददवस                          | 0.15                                                | 0.10                                                | 0.075                                               |
| 366 ददवस और ऄजधक                      | 0.20                                                | 0.15                                                | 0.10'                                               |

[फा.सं. क्यू-15017/40/2007-सीपीडब्ल्यू]

नरेि पाल गंगवार, संयुि सजचव

रटप्पणः मूल जनयम, भारत के राजपत्र, ऄसाधारण, भाग II , खंड 3, ईपखंड (i) में ऄजधसूचना संखया का.अ. 844(ऄ), तारीख  19  नवम्बर,  1986  द्वारा  प्रकाजित  दकए  गए  थे  और  ईनका  ऄंजतम  संिोधन  ऄजधसूचना  संखया सा.का.जन. 662(ऄ), तारीख 19 ऄिू बर, 2020 द्वारा दकया गया ।

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 31st  March, 2021

G.S.R. 243(E). -In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3, 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, namely:-

1. (1) These rules may be called the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2021.
- (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, in Schedule - I, in serial number 25 for letters, brackets and words  -*TPPs  (units)  shall  meet  the  limits  within  two  years  from  date  of  publication  of  this  notification‖,  the following shall be substituted, namely: -
4. -*  (i)  A  task  force  shall  be  constituted  by  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  comprising  of representative from Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and CPCB to categorise thermal power plants in three categories as specified in the Table-I on the basis of their location to comply with the emission norms within the time limit as specified in column (4) of the TableI, namely: -
5. ( ii) the thermal power plant declared to retire before the date as specified in column ( 5) of Table-I shall not be required to meet the specified norms in case such plants submit an undertaking to CPCB and CEA for exemption on ground of retirement of such plant:

Table-I

| Sl. No.   | Category   | Location/area                                                                               | Timelines for compliance   | Timelines for compliance   |
|-----------|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|           |            |                                                                                             | Non retiring units         | Retiring units             |
| (1)       | (2)        | (3)                                                                                         | (4)                        | (5)                        |
| 1         | Category A | Within 10 km radius of National Capital Region or cities having million plus population 1 . | Upto 31 st December 2022   | Upto 31 st December 2022   |
| 2         | Category B | Within 10 km radius of Critically Polluted Areas 2 or Non-attainment cities 2               | Upto 31 st December 2023   | Upto 31 st December 2025   |
| 3         | Category C | Other than those included in category A and B                                               | Upto 31 st December 2024   | Upto 31 st December 2025   |

Provided that such plants shall be levied environment compensation at the rate of rupees 0.20 per unit electricity generated in case their operation is continued beyond the date as specified in the Undertaking;

- ( iii) there shall be levied environment compensation on the non-retiring thermal power plant, after the date as specified in column ( 4) of Table-I, as  per the rates specified in the Table-II, namely:-

Table-II

| Non-Compliant operation beyond   | Environmental Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated)   | Environmental Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated)   | Environmental Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated)   |
|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| the Timeline                     | Category A                                                        | Category B                                                        | Category C                                                        |
| 0-180 days                       | 0.10                                                              | 0.07                                                              | 0.05                                                              |
| 181-365 days                     | 0.15                                                              | 0.10                                                              | 0.075                                                             |
| 366 days and beyond              | 0.20                                                              | 0.15                                                              | 0.10. ‖                                                           |

[ F. No. Q-15017/40/2007 -

NARESH PAL GANGAWAR, Jt. Secy

CPW] .

Note: The principle rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section  3, Sub-section (i) vide number S.O. 844(E), dated the 19th November, 1986 and lastly amended vide notification G.S.R. 662(E), dated the 19th October, 2020.