Lok Sabha Question No. 148 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-13
Subject: Closure of Coal-powered Boilers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sanjay Bhatia

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 148

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2023

## Closure of Coal-powered Boilers

## *148.   SHRI SANJAY BHATIA:

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

- (a) whether  the  industrial  units  running  on  coal-powered  boilers  in  Karnal  and  Panipat Parliamentary  Constituencies  have  been  served  with  closure  notice  by  the  Pollution Control Board (PCB);
- (b) whether the said boilers are required to be replaced for being run on Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and the said step is not practically economical as the cost of fuel in case of PNG powered boilers is likely to increase threefold in comparison to that of the coal-powered boilers;
- (c) whether the replacement of thousands of boilers in NCR through boiler manufacturers is likely to take three to four years, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  PNG  suppliers  have  their  monopoly  and  charging  very  high  prices  and whether the Government has taken any steps in this regard, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether all the industrial units of NCR region are likely to remain closed due to the above facts, and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government has taken any steps to allow industries in Panipat to use coal as fuel for their boilers with a view to make them competitive in industrial market and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  148  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  13.02.2023  REGARDING 'CLOSURE  OF  COAL-POWERED  BOILERS'  RAISED  BY  SHRI  SANJAY  BHATIA, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

(a) to (f)

Emissions  from  heavily  polluting  fuels  for  various  industrial,  domestic  and  miscellaneous applications  contribute  significantly  to  the  degradation  of  air  quality  in  the  NCR  and adjoining  areas  and  accordingly  a  consistent  need  has  been  felt  to  switch  over  to  lesser polluting and cleaner fuels in the NCR.

Shifting of industries to PNG / cleaner fuels has accordingly been a high priority area. While within Delhi, industries had majorly shifted to PNG, use of highly polluting fuels fossil fuels like  coal,  furnace  oil  and  the  types  dominated  the  industrial  spectrum  in  the  NCR  beyond Delhi. As the concerns of air pollution are uniform across NCR and from the standpoint of a common airshed approach, also considering the need to optimally balance the imperatives of sustainability of operations as also the emissions from use of various types/ categories of fuels that have a direct bearing on the air quality, statutory directions were issued for adoption of a standard list of permissible fuels for entire NCR for adoption in a graded and phased response manner, targeting transition of all industries in the NCR including industries in Karnal and Panipat Parliamentary Constituencies, latest by 31.12.2022.

Coal being a highly polluting fuel, it was decided to phase out its use from entire NCR  in industrial, domestic and miscellaneous applications (barring use of low Sulphur coal only in thermal power plants), towards aiming for an overall improved air quality in the region.

Besides clean gaseous fuels like PNG/ CNG/ LPG etc., biomass fuels and fuels for specific applications  have  also  been  permitted  for  industrial  applications  in  the  NCR,  beyond  the jurisdiction of NCT of Delhi, towards an affordable alternative to highly priced gaseous fuels like  PNG/  CNG  etc.  and  also  to  arrest  the  uncontrolled  burning  of  biomass  /  agricultural residue etc. in fields and open areas.

Thus in NCR, beyond Delhi, it is not mandatory for industries to use only PNG as fuel and various  other  alternatives  for  clean  fuels,  which  are  also  much  economical  as  compared  to PNG, have been provided in the standard list of approved fuels.

Pursuant  to  the  directions  as  above,  almost  all  the  industries  in  NCR  have  adopted  the standard  list  of  approved  fuels.  Of  a  total  of  about  7,760  fuel  based  industries  presently operating in NCR, 4082 industries have opted for running their operations with PNG and the balance  are  now  running  on  biomass  based  fuels  /  fuels  other  than  PNG.  Only  about  320 industrial  units  across  entire  NCR  have  temporarily  ceased  their  operations  on  their  own, beyond 31.12.2022, till they also migrate to cleaner fuels as per the approved fuel list.

Shifting  of  coal  based  boilers  to  biomass  based  fuels  /  other  fuels  etc.  does  not  entail  any major modifications or cost implications towards such transition.

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