Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 13: In a significant policy shift, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has eased the requirement for mandatory installation of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems across coal-fired thermal power plants. The new framework moves away from a one-size-fits-all approach, focusing instead on plant location, local pollution levels, and coal quality.
Under the revised rules, only plants located within 10 kilometres of cities with populations exceeding one million will now be required to install FGDs. Units in critically polluted zones or non-attainment cities will be assessed individually. This change exempts nearly 79% of India’s thermal power capacity from mandatory compliance.
The decision, finalised after extensive expert review and consultations, is aimed at improving regulatory efficiency while balancing environmental and economic priorities.
The relaxed norms are expected to reduce electricity costs by 25–30 paise per unit, offering significant relief for both consumers and state electricity distribution companies (discoms). Previously, the blanket FGD mandate was projected to cost over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, or Rs 1.2 crore per MW, and posed potential risks to grid stability due to prolonged retrofitting schedules.
Studies conducted by premier institutions such as IIT Delhi, CSIR-NEERI, and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) provided the scientific basis for the decision. Their findings revealed that:
• Ambient sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels across most of India remain between 3–20 µg/m³, far below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit of 80 µg/m³.
• Indian coal typically contains less than 0.5% sulphur, and high stack emissions and favorable weather conditions aid pollutant dispersion.
• A universal FGD rollout would have resulted in an additional 69 million tonnes of CO2 emissions from limestone mining, transport, and increased power consumption between 2025–2030.
“These findings make it clear that India's environmental priorities must be tailored to its specific needs,” said a senior environment ministry official. “This is not a dilution of norms but a shift toward targeted, evidence-driven regulation.”
Industry leaders also welcomed the move. “It’s a science-based, economically sensible step. It avoids blanket costs and prioritises cleaner, more affordable power,” said an executive from a major public sector utility.
The ministry stressed that environmental protection remains a top priority but will now be pursued through a "smarter lens" focused on areas of genuine concern.
An affidavit outlining these updated findings will soon be submitted to the Supreme Court as part of the ongoing MC Mehta vs Union of India case, where FGD compliance timelines have been under scrutiny.
“This is recalibration, not rollback,” a senior official reiterated. “It’s about smarter, more climate-conscious governance.”