Lok Sabha Question No. 2304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Pollution caused by Coal Based Industries
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar, Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2304

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## Pollution caused by Coal Based Industries

2304.   SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:

SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR: SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH:

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

- (a) whether  huge  amount  of  carbon  dioxide  is  emitted  by  burning  of  coal  which  is responsible for climate change and extremely harmful for public health;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to effectively control pollution caused by coal-based industries and power generation industries in the country including Maharashtra;
- (c) whether  the  Maharashtra  Pollution  Control  Board  (MPCB)  is  not  able  to  effectively control the pollution caused by coal-based industries and power generating industries;
- (d) the details of the actions taken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control (MPCB) against the said industries during the last three years;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  guidelines  to  both  CPCB  and  MPCB  or constituted any Committee to establish special monitoring mechanism to take strict action against pollution causing industries, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  strict  action  against  violators  under  the  Air (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1981  and  the  Environment  (Protection) Act,1986, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) Carbon dioxide (CO2) is naturally present in the atmosphere and is essential for plant life. Along  with  others  -  methane  (CH4),  nitrous  oxide  (N2O),  hydrofluorocarbons  (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3); CO2 is a greenhouse gas. As per the latest reports submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) i.e. the third National Communications (NCs) and the fourth Biennial  Update  Reports  (BURs),  total  CO2  emissions  from  coal  consumption  in  India  in

2019 and 2020 were 1474.79 million tonnes CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2) and 1397.06 Mt CO2 respectively,  which  includes  emissions  from  electricity  production,  iron  and  steel,  cement, etc.

- (b) to (f):

The  Government  has  made  it  mandatory  to  obtain  Environmental  Clearance  (EC)  before commencement of activities or project as mentioned in Schedule of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)/ State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). In addition, all the units have to obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB). These Environmental Permits stipulate all necessary conditions  including  mitigation  measures  to  protect  the  environment.  Comprehensive environmental monitoring mechanism, for assessing the efficacy of mitigation measures, is undertaken as prescribed in the Environment (Protection) Act & Rules and EC conditions. The compliance report is  submitted to regulatory  agencies on routine basis by the project proponent.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notifies 'Standards for  Emission  or  Discharge  of  Environmental  Pollutants  from  various  Industries'  under Schedule-I  of  the  Environment  Protection  Rules,  1986.  The  general  standards  as  notified under Schedule-VI of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986 are applicable where specific standards are not available for the industrial sectors. The concerned SPCB/PCC ensures the implementation  of  said  standards.  CPCB  has  directed  all  17  categories  of  high  pollution potential  industries  and  common  waste  treatment  facilities  to  install  Online  Continuous Effluent/ Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) for strengthening monitoring mechanism and effective compliance through self-regulatory mechanism and constant vigil on pollution levels.  Real-time  values  of  environmental  pollutants  of  trade  effluent  and  emissions generated through OCEMS are transmitted online to CPCB and concerned SPCB/PCC on 24x7 basis. Central software processes the data and in case of value of pollutant parameter exceeds prescribed environmental norms, an automatic SMS alert is generated and sent to industrial unit, SPCB and CPCB, so that corrective measures can be taken by the industry immediately and appropriate action can be taken by concerned SPCB/PCC/CPCB.

During  last  three  years,  a  total  of  366  units  were  inspected  by  CPCB/SPCBs  based  on OCEMS data, out of which 192 units were found non-complying with environmental norms. Action  (Closure  Directions:  5;  Show  Cause  Notices:  116;  Directives:  22;  Directions  to SPCBs/PCCs: 49) were taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws. Out of these inspections,  20  coal-based  Thermal  Power  Plants  were  inspected  under  OCEMS-based inspections.  Out  of  these  20  units,  7  units  were  found  non-complying  with  environmental norms. Action (Show Cause Notices: 6; Directives: 1) were taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws.

In Maharashtra, to control air pollution caused by coal mines near Chandrapur city, water sprinklers have been installed and are operated regularly along roadsides, at coal handling facilities,  and  within  mining  areas.  Maharashtra  Pollution  Control  Board  (MPCB)  grants consent  to  coal  based  industries  and  power  generation  industries  with  specific  terms  and conditions  to  control  pollution.  MPCB  regularly  inspects  the  industries  to  check  the compliances  of  consent  conditions.  Based  on  the  violations  of  consent  conditions  legal actions  are  initiated  against  the  industries  by  the  Board.  MPCB  in  its  inspections  have observed violation in 271 industries using coal as fuel during last three years and has taken actions by issuing Show Cause Notice, Interim/Closure Directions to these industries.

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