Revised Emission Norms Aim to Reduce Power Costs

In a significant policy shift, India has decided to relax the mandatory retrofitting of coal-fired power plants with flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) units. This new rule will now apply only to units located within 10 kilometers of cities with populations exceeding 1 million, a move expected to lower electricity costs by 25-30 paise per unit.

Environmental and Economic Considerations

The revision, based on studies by the Central Pollution Control Board and institutions like IIT-Delhi, aims to balance environmental concerns with economic efficiency. Critics, however, argue that this lets 79% of the country's thermal generation capacity off the hook, potentially compromising air quality.

Industry Response and Future Directions

Power producers have welcomed the decision, citing the high costs and operational challenges of universal FGD installation. The government defends the policy as a 'focused, efficient, and climate-conscious' approach, promising case-by-case evaluations for new plants in critically polluted areas.