Recently, India’s MoEFCC amended the Environment Protection Rules, extending the deadline for thermal plants to meet SO₂ emission norms by three years. 

Origins and Evolution of SO₂ Emission Norms

• New Norms: India’s emission norms for thermal power plants underwent a major revision in December 2015. 
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced stringent limits on particulate matter emissions and, for the first time, set norms for sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions.
• Key Features of the 2015 Norms
  • Stricter Limits: New regulations aligned with international best practices, comparable to those in Australia, China, and the United States.
  • Compliance Timeline: Initially, power plants were required to comply by December 2017. However, the deadline was widely considered unrealistic due to infrastructure and technological limitations.

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Challenges in Implementation

• Low-Sulphur Coal Assumption: India’s coal has relatively low sulphur content, which should have made compliance easier. However, the focus shifted to flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) as the primary solution.
• Cost and Supply Chain Issues:
  • High costs and long installation timelines for FGD technology became major roadblocks.
  • Limited availability of necessary equipment and expertise further delayed implementation.
• Narrowed Policy Focus: Instead of exploring multiple emission control methods suitable for Indian conditions, discussions became dominated by logistical and financial concerns related to FGD technology. 
  • This shift limited alternative approaches that could have been more cost-effective and adaptable to India’s energy sector.

Reason Behind Delays in India’s SO₂ Emission Compliance

• Conflicting Viewpoints:  Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Reports (2020 & 2021) questioned the feasibility of uniform nationwide standards. It proposed extending full compliance until 2035.
  • CEA commissioned an IIT Delhi study, which recognized FGD benefits but recommended phased implementation due to cost concerns and increased emissions.
• NITI Aayog’s Assessment (2024): Commissioned a study from CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. Challenged the necessity of SO₂ norms, advocating for prioritizing particulate matter emissions instead.
• Lack of Scientific Consensus: Instead of ensuring evidence-based policymaking before rolling out the norms in 2015, conflicting studies and agency perspectives have prolonged the debate.
• Government Reluctance: The unwillingness to enforce compliance has led to repeated deadline extensions, undermining environmental policy credibility.
• Multiple Deadline Extensions: The MoEFCC’s recent decision to extend the SO₂ compliance deadline is the fourth delay since the 2015 norms were introduced. Separate timelines for SO₂ and particulate matter emissions.
• Contradictory Implementation: Compliance with particulate matter norms was mandated by December 2024, with some plants required to comply by 2022 or 2023.
  • However, enforcement remains weak, with little evidence of pollution control boards actively verifying adherence.
• Regulatory Gaps: The fragmented and inconsistent enforcement of environmental norms highlights serious concerns about regulatory efficacy. No clear public disclosures on compliance status of thermal power plants. 
  • Without stringent oversight, it remains unclear whether plants are genuinely reducing emissions or merely benefiting from repeated extensions.

Economic and Public Health Costs of Delay

• Cost Pass-Through Mechanisms: Regulators have permitted thermal plants to transfer the costs of FGD installations to electricity consumers. This shields plant operators from financial penalties while shifting the burden to end-users through higher tariffs.
• Unjustified Consumer Costs: Some plants that have installed FGDs may not operate them due to high operating costs. Consumers end up paying for pollution control equipment that remains unused, while air quality continues to deteriorate.
• Current Status of FGD Implementation: 
• • 22 GW of thermal power plants have already installed FGDs.
  • 102 GW (nearly 50% of total installed capacity) is in advanced stages of FGD installation.
• Revised Compliance Deadline: The earliest deadline for meeting SO₂ norms is now December 31, 2027. Further delays remain a possibility, given past precedents.
• Pollution: Thermal power plants are a major source of SO₂, which contributes to worsening air quality.
• Formation of Secondary Aerosols: SO₂ reacts with other pollutants to form fine particulate matter (PM2.5), increasing pollution levels.
• Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases: Long-term exposure to SO₂ is linked to asthma, bronchitis, and lung infections. Increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and premature mortality in high-pollution areas.
• Impact on Vulnerable Groups: Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions are most affected. Many affected thermal plants are located near densely populated urban centers, worsening the public health crisis.

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Conclusion

Unless India’s regulatory bodies take decisive action, the country risks repeating this cycle of delay and dilution, with grave consequences for both its citizens and its environment.

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