Lok Sabha Question No. 1848 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Installation of Flue Gas Desulfurization Units
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1848

## ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023

## INSTALLATION OF FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION UNITS

1848. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  none  of  the  States  in  the eastern region, including Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Jharkhand, has any thermal power plants currently complying with the emission norms;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  mechanism  adopted  by  the  Government  to ensure  compliance  with  installing  Flue  Gas  Desulfurization  (FGD)  units  to control SO2 emissions by thermal power plants in the said region;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  also  aware  that  there  is  no  information available  about  on-ground  inspections  conducted  by  State-level  regulatory bodies for the installation of FGDs in thermal power plants; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  of  on-ground  inspections  conducted  by  State-level regulatory bodies for the installation of FGDs in thermal power plants along with the results of these inspections, State/UT-wise?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) to (d) :   All  Thermal  Power  Plants  are  required  to  comply  with  the emission  norms  as  notified  by  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and directions given by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from time to time.

Thermal  Power  Plants  located  in  the  States  of  the  eastern  region, including  Bihar,  West  Bengal,  Odisha,  Assam  and  Jharkhand,  are  in  the various stages of up-gradation and installation of emission control equipments as per the timelines specified vide MoEF&CC Notification dated 05.09.2022.

For compliance to Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission norms, Thermal  Power  Plants  are  installing Flue Gas  De-sulphurisation (FGD) equipment, for which the timelines for compliance (for non-retiring units) as specified by MoEF&CC are as follows:

|   Sl. No. | Category   | Location/Area                                                                                                               | Timelines                |
|-----------|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
|         1 | Category A | Within 10 km radius of National Capital Region (NCR) or cities having million plus population (as per 2011 census of India) | Upto 31st December 2024  |
|         2 | Category B | Within 10 km radius of Critically Polluted Areas or Non-attainment cities (as defined by CPCB)                              | Upto 31 st December 2025 |
|         3 | Category C | Other than those included in category A and B                                                                               | Upto 31 st December 2026 |

For  non-compliance  beyond  the  specified  timelines,  MoEF&CC  has prescribed following environment compensation on the non-retiring thermal power plants:

| Non-Compliant operation beyond the Timeline   |   Environmental Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated) |
|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 0-180 days                                    |                                                               0.2 |
| 181-365 days                                  |                                                               0.3 |
| 366 days and beyond                           |                                                               0.4 |

The  compliance  of  emission  norms  is  being  monitored  by  Central Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  and  the  concerned  State  Pollution  Control Boards  (SPCBs)  in  the  States.  Central  Electricity  Authority  (CEA)  assists CPCB  in  monitoring  the  progress  of  installation  of  FGD  by  the  TPPs.  The monitoring  is  done  for all  stages  of  FGD  installation  which  includes; Feasibility Study Started, Feasibility Study Completed, Tender Specifications Made, NIT Issued, Bids Awarded and FGD Commissioned. The time limit for Thermal  Power  Plants  to  comply  with  SO2  emission  parameters  has  not lapsed.

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