India’s coal fired power plants will miss an important deadline for installing emissions control equipment at the end of the year, further aggravating air pollution in India.
Delays in implementing measures to curb sulfur dioxide threaten to worsen air pollution problems across the country.
Bloomberg reported that nearly 75% coal-fired generators located near major cities would not meet the deadline of December 31 to install pollution control devices.
These systems reduce the sulfur dioxide emissions that break down to harmful sulfates, which contribute to India’s persistent air pollution.
Installation can reduce emissions dramatically
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, if these systems are fully implemented they could reduce India’s emissions of sulfur dioxide by two thirds.
Manoj Kumar explained that sulfates are responsible for almost one-third the mass of particulate matter that is smog in India.
Around 20 gigawatts near major cities will be affected by the deadline. Plants in highly polluted regions have until 2025.
The country’s other facilities must also comply by 2026. The progress is slow. Less than 10% of India’s 219 gigawatt coal power capacity has installed required equipment.
The Power Ministry is seeking a third extension
Bloomberg reports that India’s Ministry of Power will be seeking a third extension of its deadline for compliance.
The Ministry is also looking at exemptions for plants older than 10 years old.
The power plant operators have refused to upgrade their equipment, citing the high cost and the need for a shutdown of operations lasting up to one month.
Operators claim that prolonged shut-downs could threaten the supply of electricity, particularly as India experienced power shortages in recent summer heatwaves.
Extending the life of a product could worsen pollution
Delay in reducing emissions has a cost. The smog that blankets northern India in winter is caused by construction dust and crop burning in states such as Punjab and Haryana.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures the quality of air in Delhi, soared Monday to 1,700. This is far above the 50-point limit.
The authorities have taken emergency measures including stopping construction, restricting the movement of trucks, and advising residents to remain indoors. The schools have been told to switch to online courses.
This pollution has a severe impact on health, resulting in millions of premature deaths.
As smog chokes the cities and disrupts everyday life, productivity losses are also increasing.
India introduced its plan to clean up power plant emissions in 2015. However, the deadline for compliance has been extended twice.
Environmental experts warn further delays could exacerbate the air pollution crisis in the country, undermining the efforts to tackle the increasing health and economic problems linked to toxic air.
The government is considering another extension. As millions of lives are at stake, and the future of the nation’s environment, it becomes more urgent to take action.
As new information becomes available, this post India’s coal plant set to miss emission deadline, worsening Delhi smog could be updated.
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