The Ministry of Environment and Forests recently announced that most thermal power plants in India will not need to install flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) units. This decision aims to create more targeted and cost-effective regulations, rather than rolling back environmental protections.
FGD units are essential for reducing sulphur dioxide emissions from coal power plants. Back in 2015, the Ministry made them mandatory for all thermal plants, but only 8% of the approximately 180 coal plants in India have complied. Many plants have received extensions, often citing high costs and limited availability as reasons for the delays. Now, only 22% of plants located in major cities with poor air quality are required to install FGDs.
The Ministry explained that this new approach reflects a decline in ambient sulphur dioxide levels and the need for more focused resource allocation. Recent data shows that India’s standard for annual sulphur dioxide concentration is stricter than that of countries like Japan and Australia. A study conducted in 2023 across 492 cities found that all but two met this standard, indicating significant improvements in air quality.
Interestingly, studies have shown that there is little difference in sulphur dioxide concentrations between cities with and without FGD technology. The Ministry estimated that spending ₹2.54 lakh crore on FGDs would only bring minimal environmental benefits.
Under the new rules, only about 11% of India’s thermal power units will be legally required to install FGDs. These include plants within a 10-km radius of the National Capital Region and cities with over a million residents. Initial deadlines for compliance were set for 2017, but the latest extension moves the deadline to December 30, 2027.
An additional 11% of units, categorized as potentially needing FGDs, will be evaluated by an expert committee based on specific environmental conditions. The remaining 78% of thermal plants are exempt from installing these systems altogether.
This shift in policy has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some applauding the cost-effective approach while others express concern over air quality issues. As air pollution remains a pressing challenge, the balance between economic feasibility and environmental protection is more crucial than ever.
For further details on air quality standards in India, you can refer to the Central Pollution Control Board’s official report.
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