Parliament Question: Pollution caused by Coal Based Industries

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2304 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025 Pollution caused by Coal Based Industries 2304. SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR: SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether huge amount of carbon dioxide is emitted by burning of coal which is responsible for climate change and extremely harmful for public health; (b) the steps taken by the Government to effectively control pollution caused by coal-based industries and power generation industries in the country including Maharashtra; (c) whether the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is not able to effectively control the pollution caused by coal-based industries and power generating industries; (d) the details of the actions taken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control (MPCB) against the said industries during the last three years; (e) whether the Government has issued any guidelines to both CPCB and MPCB or constituted any Committee to establish special monitoring mechanism to take strict action against pollution causing industries, if so, the details thereof; and (f) whether the Government proposes to take strict action against violators under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment (Protection) Act,1986, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) Carbon dioxide (CO ) is naturally present in the atmosphere and is essential for plant life. 2 Along with others - methane (CH ), nitrous oxide (N O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), 4 2 perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF ) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF ); CO is a 6 3 2 greenhouse gas. As per the latest reports submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) i.e. the third National Communications (NCs) and the fourth Biennial Update Reports (BURs), total CO emissions from coal consumption in India in 22019 and 2020 were 1474.79 million tonnes CO equivalent (Mt CO ) and 1397.06 Mt CO 2 2 2 respectively, which includes emissions from electricity production, iron and steel, cement, etc. (b) to (f): The Government has made it mandatory to obtain Environmental Clearance (EC) before commencement of activities or project as mentioned in Schedule of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)/ State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). In addition, all the units have to obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB). These Environmental Permits stipulate all necessary conditions including mitigation measures to protect the environment. Comprehensive environmental monitoring mechanism, for assessing the efficacy of mitigation measures, is undertaken as prescribed in the Environment (Protection) Act & Rules and EC conditions. The compliance report is submitted to regulatory agencies on routine basis by the project proponent. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notifies “Standards for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from various Industries” under Schedule-I of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986. The general standards as notified under Schedule-VI of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986 are applicable where specific standards are not available for the industrial sectors. The concerned SPCB/PCC ensures the implementation of said standards. CPCB has directed all 17 categories of high pollution potential industries and common waste treatment facilities to install Online Continuous Effluent/ Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) for strengthening monitoring mechanism and effective compliance through self-regulatory mechanism and constant vigil on pollution levels. Real-time values of environmental pollutants of trade effluent and emissions generated through OCEMS are transmitted online to CPCB and concerned SPCB/PCC on 24x7 basis. Central software processes the data and in case of value of pollutant parameter exceeds prescribed environmental norms, an automatic SMS alert is generated and sent to industrial unit, SPCB and CPCB, so that corrective measures can be taken by the industry immediately and appropriate action can be taken by concerned SPCB/PCC/CPCB. During last three years, a total of 366 units were inspected by CPCB/SPCBs based on OCEMS data, out of which 192 units were found non-complying with environmental norms. Action (Closure Directions: 5; Show Cause Notices: 116; Directives: 22; Directions to SPCBs/PCCs: 49) were taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws. Out of these inspections, 20 coal-based Thermal Power Plants were inspected under OCEMS-based inspections. Out of these 20 units, 7 units were found non-complying with environmental norms. Action (Show Cause Notices: 6; Directives: 1) were taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws. In Maharashtra, to control air pollution caused by coal mines near Chandrapur city, water sprinklers have been installed and are operated regularly along roadsides, at coal handling facilities, and within mining areas. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) grants consent to coal based industries and power generation industries with specific terms andconditions to control pollution. MPCB regularly inspects the industries to check the compliances of consent conditions. Based on the violations of consent conditions legal actions are initiated against the industries by the Board. MPCB in its inspections have observed violation in 271 industries using coal as fuel during last three years and has taken actions by issuing Show Cause Notice, Interim/Closure Directions to these industries. *****