Lok Sabha Question No. 3678 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-10
Subject: Pollution Caused by Coal Based Power Plants
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3678

## ANSWERED ON 10.08.2023

## POLLUTION CAUSED BY COAL BASED POWER PLANTS

†3678. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  evaluation/assessment  of pollution caused by coal based power plants in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  other  related  impact  of  the  pollution assessed during the last two years;
- (c) the  details  of  effective  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  control pollution caused by the coal based power plants;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  reduce  or  minimise dependence on coal by the power plants in the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) to (c) : The Coal based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) are required to ensure compliance of the emission norms, as notified by Ministry of Environment, Forest &  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  and  directions  given  by  the  Central  Pollution Control  Board  (CPCB),  from  time  to  time.  MoEF&CC  vide  Notification  dated 31.03.2021 has stipulated timelines for compliance to emission norms by TPPs. Compliance  with  these  norms  is  regularly  monitored  by  the  CPCB  and  State agencies.

The TPPs are adopting supercritical and ultra-supercritical technologies in order to improve efficiency, thereby reducing coal consumption and emissions. A total capacity of Supercritical units of 63830 MW (92 Units) and Ultra-supercritical of 1320 MW (2 units) have been commissioned till 31.07.2023.

Ministry of Power constituted the National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH) on 12th July 2021 and the revised biomass policy was issued on 8th October 2021, mandating all TPPs in the country to use 5% of biomass pellets in the co-firing with coal. This policy was further modified vide  Ministry's  O.M  dated  16.06.2023,  which  mandates  5%  biomass  co-firing  in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) from 2024-25. This obligation shall increase to 7% from 2025-26.

(d)  &  (e)  :  The  Government  of  India  has  set  a  target  to  achieve  500  GW  of cumulative Installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.

The  Government  is  taking  following  measures  to  increase  share  of renewable energy and to promote energy efficiency in all spheres of life: -

- (i) Ministry of Power issued scheme for 'Flexibility in Generation and Scheduling of Thermal/ Hydro Power Stations through bundling with Renewable Energy and Storage Power' in April, 2022 providing for replacement  of  both  thermal  and  hydropower  with  renewable  energy.  The scheme increases RE capacity addition, reduces thermal emissions, increases  uptake  of  Renewable  Energy  by  distribution  licensees,  and facilitates in fulfilling Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).
- (ii) Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022 for promotion of renewable energy.
- (iii) Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) declaration up to the year 2029-30.
- (iv) Green  Term  Ahead  Market  (GTAM)  to  facilitate  sale  of  Renewable  Energy Power through exchanges.
- (v) Waiver  of  Inter  State  Transmission  System  (ISTS)  charges  for  inter-State sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30 June 2025.
- (vi) Setting  up  of  Ultra  Mega  Renewable  Energy  Parks  to  provide  land  and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at large scale.
- (vii) Laying  of  new  transmission  lines  and  creating  new  sub-station  capacity under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power.
- (viii) Schemes  such  as  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Urja  Suraksha  evam  Utthaan Mahabhiyan  (PM-KUSUM),  Solar  Rooftop  Phase  II,  12000  Mega  Watt  (MW) Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme Phase II, etc.

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