Lok Sabha Question No. 3469 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Installation of FGD Systems
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Manickam Tagore B, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao, Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3469

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## Installation of FGD Systems

## 3469.   SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:

SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

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

- (a)  whether the Government has recently exempted a substantial number of coal-fired thermal power plants from the mandatory installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the specific criteria and rationale used to determine these exemptions,  including  the  reasons  for  adopting  location-based  emission  norms  instead  of uniform national standards;
- (c) the details of exempted units along with the criteria and scientific basis for classifying units into Categories A, B, and C for the purpose of FGD requirements;
- (d)  whether  any  health  impact  assessments  or  regional  air  quality  modelling  studies  were conducted  prior  to  issuing  the  exemption,  particularly  in  areas  downwind  of  major  coal clusters, if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  the  details  of  the  alternative  pollution  control  technologies,  emission  limits,  or  monitoring protocols  will  be  mandated  in  lieu  of  FGD  installation  to  mitigate  the  environmental  and public health impacts from such exempted plants;
- (f)  Government  plan  to  strike  a  balance  between  reducing  air  pollution  and  supporting  the economic viability of thermal power plants, especially those exempted  from  FGD compliance; and
- (g) the status of implementation of the recommendations made by the Expert Committee on the issue of emission control in the thermal power plants?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

## (a) to (g):

The  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 COVID19  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, several studies conducted by research institutions such as CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) [report titled as 'Analysis of Historical Ambient Air Quality Data along with Emission from coal-based Thermal Power Plants for Developing a Decision Support System' ], Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi [report titled as ' Study to survey  ambient  atmospheric  SO2  concentrations  in  different  category  of  cities  based  on  their vicinity to thermal power plants (TPPs) '],National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) [report titled as "Economic, Environmental, and Climate Impacts of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) in Thermal Power Plants in India' ],  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.  Apart  from  these  studies, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had also conducted a simulation modelling of emission from source of Thermal Power  Plant for different  scenarios/matrix  through  Indian  Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.

After  detailed  review  of  the  matter,  the  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. Accordingly, the applicability and timelines for compliance of SO2 emission standards by TPPs are as follows:

| Category                                                                                      | Applicability of SO 2 emission standards                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Time limit for compliance   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Category A (Plants within 10 km radius of NCR or cities having million plus population)       | Mandatory                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 31.12.2027                  |
| Category B (Plants within 10 km radius of non-attainment cities or critically polluted areas) | To be decided on a case to case basis by the Central Government based upon the recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee (Thermal Projects). In case any TPP is considered for non- applicability of SO 2 emission standards, such TPP shall ensure meeting stack height as per Notification no. G.S.R. 742 (E) dated30.08.1990. | 31.12.2028                  |
| Category C (Other than those included in CategoryA and B)                                     | Not applicable subject to condition of meeting stack height as per Notification no. G.S.R. 742 (E) dated 30.08.1990.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 31.12.2029                  |

Out of 600 TPP units commissioned up to 30.11.2021 as per information available from Central Electricity Authority (CEA), 66 units are under Category 'A', 72 units are under Category 'B', and 462 units are under Category 'C'. The TPP units are categorized by the task force constituted by CPCB comprising of representatives from MoEFCC, Ministry of Power, CPCB and CEA, in compliance with the MoEFCC Notification G.S.R. 243(E) dated 31.03.2021.

The category-wise applicability of SO2 emission standards in TPPs has been decided based on detailed  scientific  studies  and  analysis  of  ambient  SO2  concentrations  across  the  country, including  areas  near  TPPs.  The  decision  taken  by  the  Central  Government  while  issuing Notification dated 11.07.2025 is based on scientific approach, environmental sustainability and environmental  benefits/loss  in  achieving  SO2  emission  norms  as  well  as  techno-economic feasibility  of  implementing  such  control  measures  across  all  coal/lignite-based  TPPs.  This approach applies the precautionary principle for controlling and abating air pollution in densely populated and other air pollution-sensitive areas, while also considering to safeguard consumers from  the  heavy  burden  due  to  potential  increases  in  electricity  prices.  This  approach  further demonstrates  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.

TPPs  are  required  to  comply  with  the  emission  standards  notified  by  MoEF&CC  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 such  cases  where  SO2  emission  standards  are  not  being  made  applicable,  TPPs  shall  ensure compliance  of  stack  height  criteria  notified  vide  Notification  number  GSR  742  (E)  dated  the 30.08.1990  governing  SO2  emissions  from  TPPs  to  aid  proper  dispersion  of  pollutants  and mitigate environmental impacts.

*****