Source – India Express 6th September 2022
Governmentt had been blowing hot and cold in the same breath about controlling pollution by Thermal Power Plants – 263 plants – 59 had to retire by 2017, 101 ewere to retire due to new Environment Norms and 103 were to retire between 2022-2023. However, Union Minister made a statement on the floor of Parliament, that it has no plan to retire Thermal Power Plants.
India extended a deadline for coal-fired power plants to install equipment to cut sulphur emissions by two years, the government said in a notification on Tuesday, marking the third push back on a commitment to clean up dirty air.
Indian cities have some of the world’s most polluted air. Thermal utilities, which produce 75% of the country’s power, account for some 80% of industrial emissions of sulphur and nitrous-oxides, which cause lung diseases, acid rain and smog.
India had initially set a 2017 deadline for thermal power plants to install flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) units to cut sulphur emissions. That was later changed to varying deadlines for different regions, ending in 2022, and further extended last year to a period ending 2025.
SC Bench headed by Justice Madan Lokur & Justice Deepak Gupta had slamed Power Ministry - source Business Standard 25th July 2018
Taking a dim view of the Union Power Ministry shifting to 2022 the deadline for installing flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) in coal-fired thermal power plants, the Supreme Court on Wednesday told the ministry to be honest and say it will not do it or is incapable of doing it.
"Say honestly, we are not going to do it or we are incapable of doing it," said the bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta describing the situation as "hopeless".
The original deadline for installing FGDs on thermal power plants (TTP) to comply with the 2015 emission standards for sulphur dioxide (SO2) was December 2017 - a jump in deadline by five years.
Observing that "there is no will to do it", Justice Lokur said: "File one line affidavit 'We are not going to do it' and we will close the matter."
Saying that government was not bothered about the health of the people, the court described the affidavit as "illusionary" and there is "no will to bring down the pollution level".
"How can you violate your own norms?" asked Justice Lokur.
Now if we look at the pollution by Power Plants in USA, nearly 60% of carbon emmissions, despite strict controls in place is from Thermal Power Plants and the concerns are as follows:-
Facts about emissions from burning coal in USA despite all strict compliances:-
The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates (as of October 2022) that in 2021, CO2 emissions from burning coal for energy accounted for about 20% of total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions and for nearly 60% of total CO2 emissions from the electric power sector.
Several principal emissions result from coal combustion:
1.Sulfur dioxide (SO2), which contributes to acid rain and respiratory illnesses
2v. Nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to smog and respiratory illnesses
3. Particulates, which contribute to smog, haze, and respiratory illnesses and lung disease
4. Carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the primary greenhouse gas produced from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas)
5. Mercury and other heavy metals, which have been linked to both neurological and developmental damage in humans and other animals
6. Fly ash and bottom ash, which are residues created when power plants burn coal.
BIG Question - Who is polluting cities of India? Stubble burning - thermal power plants?