Lok Sabha Question No. 2423 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Installing of FGD System
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Shyamkumar Daulat Barve

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2423

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## Installing of FGD System

## 2423.   SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT BARVE:

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

- (a) whether the exemption given by the Government for installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation  (FGD)  system  is  not  contrary  to  the  Government's  objectives  of  Clean India and Healthy India;
- (b) whether it is a fact that Sulphur Dioxide particles generated by thermal power plants spread air pollution up to a distance of 200 km, if so, the reasons for considering only a radius of 10 km as the standard;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  which  confirms  that  tall  chimneys control pollution;
- (d) whether it is a fact that only 8 per cent of thermal power units have installed FGD system so  far  and  the  remaining  have  violated  the  deadline,  if  so,  whether  monetary  or  legal penalties have been imposed on them;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether PM 2.5 levels are still high in many major cities of the country despite the use of low sulphur coal, if so, the measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

## (a) to (f):

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified emission standards for coal/lignite-fired  Thermal  Power  Plants  (TPPs)  vide  notification  dated  07.12.2015.  The  SO2 emission  standards  prescribed  vide  notification  dated  07.12.2015  have  been  reviewed  by  the Central  Government  taking  into  consideration  the  various  representations  received  regarding exemption or relaxation in timelines of these emission standards due to limited availability of technology providers, its techno-economic feasibility, negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on  supply  chain,  price  escalation  due  to  high  demand  and  low  supplies,  low  Sulphur  dioxide concentration in ambient air and heavy burden on consumer due to increase in electricity prices etc.  Besides,  studies  conducted  by  research  institutions  regarding  effectiveness  and  rationale behind  these  standards  and  its  role  in  overall  ambient  air  pollution  of  the  region,  were  also considered to evaluate the need of universal  applicability and enforcement of these standards. After detailed review of the matter, Ministry has issued notification vide G.S.R. 465 (E) dated 11.07.2025 regarding the applicability of SO2 emission standards notified vide notification dated 07.12.2015.

Besides, several scientific studies conducted by research institutions regarding effectiveness and rationale behind these standards and its role in overall ambient air pollution of the region, were also  considered  to  evaluate  the  need  of  universal  applicability  and  enforcement  of  these standards. As per these scientific studies as well as other scientific analysis, it has been observed that  the  SO2  emissions  from  TPPs  having  adequate  stack  height  in  compliance  with  the Notification dated 30.08.1990 contributes to low ambient SO2 concentrations in and around the TPPs due to  proper  dispersion  of  the  pollutants,  which  is  further  observed  to  be  insignificant beyond 10 km radius of TPPs.

The notification  dated  11.07.2025  is  based  on  approach  of  resource  conservation  by  avoiding additional consumption of water, auxiliary power, and limestone; it also considers the increase in carbon footprint/CO2 emissions resulting from the operation of deployed control measures, as well as the mining and transportation of limestone required for these measures. Furthermore, it takes into account the techno-economic feasibility of implementing such control measures across all coal/lignite-based TPPs. Additionally, the precautionary principle has been applied for control and abatement of air pollution in densely populated and other air pollution-sensitive areas, while also considering the heavy burden on consumers due to potential increases in electricity prices.

TPPs  are  required  to  comply  with  the  emission  standards  notified  by  MoEFCC  within  the prescribed time limits, failing which environmental compensation shall be imposed on the noncompliant  TPP  units  for  operation  beyond  the  prescribed  time  limit  at  prescribed  rates.  In  all cases  where  SO2  emission  standards  are  not  being  made  applicable  TPPs,  irrespective  of location, shall ensure compliance of stack height criteria notified vide notification number GSR 742 (E) dated the 30.08.1990.

As  per  the  notification  dated  11.07.2025  the  time  limits  prescribed  for  compliance  of  SO2 emission standards by TPPs under Category 'A' and 'B' are up to 31.12.2027 and 31.12.2028, respectively.  For  Category  'C'  the  timeline  for  compliance  of  stack  height  condition  as  per notification  no.  G.S.R.  742  (E)  dated  30.08.1990  is  31.12.2029.  FGD  installation  has  been completed in 49 Units (25,590 MW) in the TPPs.

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, is a nationwide initiative aimed at  reducing  air  pollution  levels  by  up  to  40%  (from  2019-20  levels)  or  achieving  the  national standard of 60 µg/m³ for Particulate Matter by 2025-26. Under NCAP 130 nonattainment/million-plus  cities  have  been  identified  that  exceeded  air  quality  standards  for  five consecutive years.

To identify pollution sources and their contributions, Source Apportionment studies have been conducted in various cities, revealing that apart from industrial emissions, vehicles, road dust, construction  activities,  biomass  burning,  and  waste  burning  are  major  contributors  to  PM2.5 levels.

Key  initiatives  under  NCAP  include  preparation  of  annual  action  plans,  development  of  an Emergency Response System, ranking cities under Swachh Vayu Survekshan, and launching the PRANA  portal  to  track  the  progress.  Specific  source-based  measures  include  paving  roads, mechanized  street sweeping, better construction and demolition (C&D)  waste  handling, promoting  electric  and  compressed  natural  gas  (CNG)  vehicles,  banning  waste  burning,  and monitoring  industrial  emissions.  City-specific  clean  air  action  plans  have  been  prepared  and implemented  with  the  involvement  of  agencies  like  Urban  Local  Bodies,  traffic  police,  and pollution  control  boards.  In  addition,  the  Government  has  taken  several  initiatives  to  address pollution from PM2.5levels inter-alia include leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel and vehicle norms  effective  from  1st  April  2020,  promotion  of  e-mobility  and  alternate  fuels,  voluntary vehicle  scrapping  policy  through  Voluntary  Vehicle-Fleet  Modernization  Program  (VVMP), implementation  of  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  (EPR)  framework  for  End-of-  Life Vehicles (ELVs). Further, Ministry has notified emission standards for more than 80 categories of  industries  and  the  actions  towards  control  of  industrial  pollution  are  implemented  by industries. Monitoring and enforcement of industrial emission norms are carried out by the State Pollution Control Boards under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 through Consent mechanism.

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