**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) addresses concerns regarding Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) system installation and air pollution. The Ministry reviewed SO2 emission standards and issued notification G.S.R. 465 (E) on 11.07.2025 regarding their applicability, considering techno-economic feasibility and other factors. Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) must comply with emission standards within prescribed time limits, with environmental compensation for non-compliance. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to reduce air pollution levels by 2025-26.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **SO2 Emission Standards and FGD Installation:**
* MoEFCC reviewed SO2 emission standards from the notification dated 07.12.2015, considering various factors and representations.
* Notification G.S.R. 465 (E) dated 11.07.2025 addresses the applicability of SO2 emission standards.
* Scientific studies indicate SO2 emissions from TPPs with adequate stack height have low ambient concentrations within a 10 km radius.
* Resource conservation, carbon footprint, and technoeconomic feasibility are considered in the notification.
* The precautionary principle is applied in densely populated and air pollution-sensitive areas.
* **Compliance and Penalties:**
* TPPs must comply with emission standards within prescribed time limits or face environmental compensation.
* TPPs not subject to SO2 standards must comply with stack height criteria notified on 30.08.1990.
* Compliance deadlines for SO2 emission standards: Category A TPPs - 31.12.2027, Category B TPPs - 31.12.2028.
* Category C TPPs must comply with stack height conditions by 31.12.2029.
* FGD installation is completed in 49 Units (25,590 MW).
* **National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):**
* NCAP aims to reduce air pollution by up to 40% from 2019-20 levels by 2025-26.
* 130 non-attainment cities exceeding air quality standards have been identified.
* Source Apportionment studies identify pollution sources, including vehicles, road dust, construction, and biomass burning.
* Key NCAP initiatives include action plans, an Emergency Response System, Swachh Vayu Survekshan, and the PRANA portal.
* Source-based measures involve paving roads, mechanized sweeping, CD waste handling, promoting CNG/electric vehicles, banning waste burning, and monitoring industrial emissions.
* **Other Pollution Control Measures:**
* Leapfrogging to BSVI fuel and vehicle norms.
* Promotion of emobility and alternate fuels.
* Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program (VVMP).
* Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs).
* Emission standards notified for over 80 categories of industries.
* State Pollution Control Boards monitor industrial emissions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Thermal Power Plants (TPPs):**
* *Impact:* Subject to revised SO2 emission standards and compliance timelines; potential for environmental compensation for non-compliance.
* *Action Required:* Assess current emission levels, plan for FGD installation or alternative measures to meet standards, and adhere to compliance deadlines.
* **State Pollution Control Boards:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for monitoring and enforcing industrial emission norms.
* *Action Required:* Monitor TPP compliance, implement the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 through consent mechanisms, and ensure adherence to emission standards.
* **Citizens/Consumers:**
* *Impact:* Affected by air quality improvements or potential increases in electricity prices due to pollution control measures.
* *Action Required:* Support and promote initiatives aimed at reducing air pollution and be aware of potential impacts on electricity costs.
* **Urban Local Bodies, Traffic Police, and Other Agencies:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing city-specific clean air action plans under NCAP.
* *Action Required:* Develop and implement action plans, enforce regulations, and coordinate efforts to reduce air pollution from various sources.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change.
Flue Gas Desulphurisation FGD system: A technology used to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants.
Thermal Power Plants TPPs: Facilities that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels like coal or lignite.
G.S.R. 465 E: A notification number related to the applicability of SO2 emission standards.
Notification dated 30.08.1990: A notification related to 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.
Swachh Vayu Survekshan: A program for ranking cities based on their efforts to improve air quality.
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: An Indian law that provides for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2423
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Installing of FGD System
2423. SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT BARVE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the exemption given by the Government for installation of Flue Gas
Desulphurisation (FGD) system is not contrary to the Government's objectives of Clean
India and Healthy India;
(b) whether it is a fact that Sulphur Dioxide particles generated by thermal power plants spread
air pollution up to a distance of 200 km, if so, the reasons for considering only a radius of
10 km as the standard;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any study which confirms that tall chimneys
control pollution;
(d) whether it is a fact that only 8 per cent of thermal power units have installed FGD system
so far and the remaining have violated the deadline, if so, whether monetary or legal
penalties have been imposed on them;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether PM 2.5 levels are still high in many major cities of the country despite the use of
low sulphur coal, if so, the measures taken in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (f):
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
2
emission standards 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 alsoconsidered 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 standards notified vide notification dated
2
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 stack height in compliance with the
2
Notification dated 30.08.1990 contributes to low ambient SO concentrations in and around the
2
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 emissions resulting from the operation of deployed control measures, as
2
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 not being made applicable TPPs, irrespective of
2
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
2
emission standards 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 that exceeded 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 include leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel and vehicle
2.5
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.
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