Lok Sabha Question No. 2499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Emission Norms for Coal-fired TPPs
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. Selvaraj

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2499

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Emission Norms for Coal-fired TPPs

## 2499. SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

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

- (a) whether many coal based power plants around Delhi are not complying the emission norms and are likely contributing to  the  prevailing  high  pollution levels in the  NCR as  per  the recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has notified emission norms for coal-fired TPPs (Thermal Power Plants) in the year 2015, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has taken action/ propose to initiate action against these power plants for not abiding by the norms; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e):

Ministry vide notification dated 07.12.2015 revised the emission norms for particulate matter (PM) and stipulated new norms for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and mercury (Hg) emission for coal-based thermal power plants.

The implementation of the emission norms, got delayed due to various techno-economic constraints  faced  by  thermal  power  plants  and  further  affected  by  the  impact  of  COVID-19 pandemic. Considering these constraints, the Central Government initially decided for phased implementation  of  norms  with  maximum  timelines  up  to  December  2022,  and  later  vide notifications  dated  31.03.2021  and  05.09.2022  granted  further  extension  of  time  limit  for implementation of new emission norms based on plants' location, which are as below:

| Category   | Location/Area                                                                                     | Timelines for compliance with parameters other than SO 2 emission   | Timelines for compliance with SO 2 emission limit   |
|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Category A | Within 10 km radius of National Capital Region (NCR) or cities having million plus population (as | Upto 31st December 2022                                             | Upto 31st December 2024                             |

|            | per 2011 census of India)                                                                      |                         |                         |
|------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| Category B | Within 10 km radius of Critically Polluted Areas or Non-attainment cities (as defined by CPCB) | Upto 31st December 2023 | Upto 31st December 2025 |
| Category C | Other than those included in Category A and B                                                  | Upto 31st December 2024 | Upto 31st December 2026 |

The timeline for Category A plants, including those located within 10 km radius of NCR, to comply with new emission norms for parameters other than SO2 emission was December 31, 2022. There are four thermal power plants under Category A located within 10 km radius of NCR these thermal power plants have complied with the applicable emission limits i.e. for parameters other than SO2 emission.

Besides, there are  seven thermal power  plants  under Category C are  located within 300 km radius of Delhi, for which the time limits to comply with the emission norms for parameters other than SO2 and for SO2 is 31 st  December 2024 and 31 st  December 2026 respectively.

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