The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has reviewed and updated emission standards for coal/lignite-fired Thermal Power Plants (TPPs), initially notified on December 7, 2015. A subsequent notification, G.S.R. 465 E, dated July 11, 2025, addresses concerns regarding the feasibility and impact of the original standards, considering factors such as technology availability, economic feasibility, COVID-19's impact, and potential electricity price increases. Scientific studies indicated that SO2 emissions from TPPs with adequate stack height (as per notification dated August 30, 1990) have a limited impact on ambient SO2 concentrations beyond a 10 km radius. The revised notification promotes resource conservation by minimizing water, power, and limestone consumption and considering the carbon footprint associated with control measures. The policy adopts a precautionary principle for densely populated and pollution-sensitive areas, balancing pollution control with potential cost burdens on consumers.
TPPs must comply with the revised emission standards within specified time limits, with environmental compensation imposed for non-compliance. TPPs where SO2 emission standards are not applicable must adhere to stack height criteria (GSR 742 E dated 30.08.1990). Compliance deadlines are set as December 31, 2027, for Category A TPPs, December 31, 2028, for Category B TPPs, and December 31, 2029, for Category C TPPs for stack height compliance. Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems have been installed in 49 units, representing 25,590 MW of TPP capacity.
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aims to reduce air pollution by up to 40% from 2019-20 levels or achieve a particulate matter standard of 60 µg/m3 by 2025-26. NCAP focuses on 130 non-attainment cities and implements source apportionment studies to identify pollution sources, including industrial emissions, vehicles, road dust, construction, and biomass burning. Key initiatives include annual action plans, an Emergency Response System, Swachh Vayu Survekshan city rankings, and the PRANA portal. Source-based measures include road paving, mechanized sweeping, construction waste management, promotion of electric and CNG vehicles, and waste burning bans. City-specific clean air action plans are implemented with the involvement of local agencies.
Additional measures to address PM2.5 levels include the adoption of BSVI fuel and vehicle norms, promotion of e-mobility, a voluntary vehicle scrapping policy (VVMP), and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). Emission standards have been notified for over 80 industrial categories, with enforcement managed by State Pollution Control Boards under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
This information was provided by Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies. Also referred to as MoEFCC.
Thermal Power Plants: Coal/lignite fired Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) for which emission standards were notified.
G.S.R. 465 E dated 11.07.2025: A notification issued by the Ministry regarding the applicability of SO2 emission standards.
Notification dated 07.12.2015: MoEFCC notification regarding emission standards for coal/lignite fired Thermal Power Plants TPPs.
Notification dated 30.08.1990: Notification regarding stack height criteria for Thermal Power Plants.
National Clean Air Programme NCAP: A nationwide initiative launched in 2019 to reduce air pollution levels in India.
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: Indian legislation under which State Pollution Control Boards monitor and enforce industrial emission norms.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change who provided the information in response to a question in Lok Sabha.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INSTALLING OF FGD
SYSTEM
Posted On: 04 AUG 2025 4:26PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified emission standards for coal/lignite-
fired Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) vide notification dated 07.12.2015. The SO emission standards
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prescribed vide notification dated 07.12.2015 have been reviewed by the Central Government taking into
consideration the various representations received regarding exemption or relaxation in timelines of these
emission standards due to limited availability of technology providers, its techno-economic feasibility,
negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on supply chain, price escalation due to high demand and low
supplies, low Sulphur dioxide concentration in ambient air and heavy burden on consumer due to increase in
electricity prices etc.
Besides, studies conducted by research institutions regarding effectiveness and rationale behind these
standards and its role in overall ambient air pollution of the region, were also considered to evaluate the need
of universal applicability and enforcement of these standards. After detailed review of the matter, Ministry has
issued notification vide G.S.R. 465 (E) dated 11.07.2025 regarding the applicability of SO emission
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standards notified vide notification dated 07.12.2015.
Besides, several scientific studies conducted by research institutions regarding effectiveness and rationale
behind these standards and its role in overall ambient air pollution of the region, were also considered to
evaluate the need of universal applicability and enforcement of these standards. As per these scientific studies
as well as other scientific analysis, it has been observed that the SO emissions from TPPs having adequate
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stack height in compliance with the Notification dated 30.08.1990 contributes to low ambient SO
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concentrations in and around the TPPs due to proper dispersion of the pollutants, which is further observed to
be insignificant beyond 10 km radius of TPPs.
The notification dated 11.07.2025 is based on approach of resource conservation by avoiding additional
consumption of water, auxiliary power, and limestone; it also considers the increase in carbon footprint/CO
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emissions resulting from the operation of deployed control measures, as well as the mining and transportation
of limestone required for these measures. Furthermore, it takes into account the techno-economic feasibility of
implementing such control measures across all coal/lignite-based TPPs. Additionally, the precautionary
principle has been applied for control and abatement of air pollution in densely populated and other air
pollution-sensitive areas, while also considering the heavy burden on consumers due to potential increases in
electricity prices.
TPPs are required to comply with the emission standards notified by MoEFCC within the prescribed time
limits, failing which environmental compensation shall be imposed on the non-compliant TPP units for
operation beyond the prescribed time limit at prescribed rates. In all cases where SO emission standards are
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not being made applicable TPPs, irrespective of location, shall ensure compliance of stack height criteria
notified vide notification number GSR 742 (E) dated the 30.08.1990.
As per the notification dated 11.07.2025 the time limits prescribed for compliance of SO emission standards
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by TPPs under Category ‘A’ and ‘B’ are up to 31.12.2027 and 31.12.2028, respectively. For Category ‘C’ the
timeline for compliance of stack height condition as per notification no. G.S.R. 742 (E) dated 30.08.1990 is
31.12.2029. FGD installation has been completed in 49 Units (25,590 MW) in the TPPs.
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, is a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing
air pollution levels by up to 40% (from 2019-20 levels) or achieving the national standard of 60 µg/m³ for
Particulate Matter by 2025-26. Under NCAP 130 non-attainment/million-plus cities have been identified thatexceeded air quality standards for five consecutive years. To identify pollution sources and their
contributions, Source Apportionment studies have been conducted in various cities, revealing that apart from
industrial emissions, vehicles, road dust, construction activities, biomass burning, and waste burning are
major contributors to PM2.5 levels.
Key initiatives under NCAP include preparation of annual action plans, development of an Emergency
Response System, ranking cities under Swachh Vayu Survekshan, and launching the PRANA portal to track
the progress. Specific source-based measures include paving roads, mechanized street sweeping, better
construction and demolition (C&D) waste handling, promoting electric and compressed natural gas (CNG)
vehicles, banning waste burning, and monitoring industrial emissions. City-specific clean air action plans
have been prepared and implemented with the involvement of agencies like Urban Local Bodies, traffic
police, and pollution control boards.
In addition, the Government has taken several initiatives to address pollution from PM levels inter-alia
2.5
include leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel and vehicle norms effective from 1st April 2020, promotion
of e-mobility and alternate fuels, voluntary vehicle scrapping policy through Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet
Modernization Program (VVMP), implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for
End-of- Life Vehicles (ELVs). Further, Ministry has notified emission standards for more than 80 categories
of industries and the actions towards control of industrial pollution are implemented by industries. Monitoring
and enforcement of industrial emission norms are carried out by the State Pollution Control Boards under the
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 through Consent mechanism.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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VM/SK
(Lok Sabha US Q2423)
(Release ID: 2152127)