Indicating that coal based power plants across the country will not be given any leeway, MoEF has made it clear that it will not dilute the emission norms for thermal power plants, as notified on December 7, 2015, to minimise air pollution.
Nor will it relax deadline for implementation of the stricter standards.
The revised emission standards for thermal power plants was notified with respect to PM, SO
2, NO
2, Hg and water consumption on Dec 7, 2015 and shall come into force from Dec 6, 2017.
This will dispel all doubts over the implementation.
The minister noted that the assessment in respect to level of implementation would be done only after these standards come into effect.
Besides notifying new emission norms in 2015, the government had taken other steps to clean up the environment in areas adjoining thermal power plants.
It included installation of continuous emission/effluent monitoring systems (CEMS), revised norms for fly ash utilisation.
Also included are industry specific action plans for critically polluted areas where significant number of thermal power plants are located and development of green belt in surrounding areas.
MoEF's Stance: Know More- According to the ministry, 142 out of 162 standalone power plants have so far installed CEMS.
- Among these, 102 have also initiated online transmission of emission/effluent data to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) whereas six plants have installed flue gas de-sulphurisation (FGD) system for control of SO2 emissions.
- The ministry seeks to have a mechanism in place to monitor implementation of emission standards.
