Just 1 % of the total coal-fired power plant capacity needed to comply with the emission requirements set out in the current phase-in plan has been fitted with a compulsory flue-gas desulfuriser (FGD) for controlling toxic sulfur dioxide emissions.
For the total 169.7GW coal capacity in the country, plants with only 27 per cent capacity have tendered for the implementation of the FGD. Approximately 72% of the capacity has not even been awarded bids.
These data were presented by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) during the CREA and Climate Trends Webinar on the Compliance of Emissions Standards for Coal Power Plants.
CREA further pointed out that if bids for a FGD project were still to be won for the majority of coal space, recent reports by power plant operators that a moratorium on China’s power plant would hinder its ability to comply with pollution regulations would be unfounded. “India is in a position to build retrofits without depending on China,” the organization said.
Experts present in the webinar have also called on the Association of Power Producers (APP) to request further extensions for thermal power plants for the implementation of emission standards. “Companies like BHEL have the technology and they can adapt it to our needs. China is not the only supplier to the company. Besides, the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative is all about local development. The only thing that delays pollution control system deployment is not money or lack of equipment, but lack of willingness, “said Sunil Dahiya, CREA analyst.
Coal power plant operators who did not comply with the 2020 deadline have been ordered by the Central Pollution Control Board to pay a big fine. Experts, however, pointed out that the penalties range from just 0.12 per cent to 3.28 per cent of the total energy costs.
“No significant penalty is being charged for non-compliance. The penalty is token at best. Until a clear policy directive comes from the Centre, it is difficult to get power producers to take compliance seriously,” said Karthik Ganesan, fellow at Council on Energy Environment and Water (CEEW).
Supposing that power producers spent lakhs on legal fees to postpone the enforcement of regulations , environmental lawyer Ritwick Dutta observed that this was a criminal breach of the Union Ministry of the Environment’s order and a simple lack of intention.
“Covid and 2020 will be used as an reason to justify further delays in 2022. Four days ago, the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) approached the Supreme Court to challenge the National Green Tribunal’s order to cover coal transporting tarpaulin trucks. If basic pollution control measures such as tarpaulins can not be carried out, there is clearly no intention to comply, “he added.
