Delhi-NCR pollution worsened by thermal power plants: CSE report

• Out of the 11 plants in the National Capital Region (NCR) Only two have implemented sulphur dioxide (SO2) control measures, and just one meets SO2 emission standards.
• Three plants exceed particulate matter (PM) norms.
• Four plants exceed nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission norms, with three in Haryana and one in Punjab.
• Five plants lack proper data reporting in the public domain.

A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has highlighted that the ongoing air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR is being exacerbated by the non-compliance of thermal power plants with emission control norms.

Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE, stated that the region cannot achieve clean air standards and safeguard public health if thermal power plants continue to be high emitters. The power plants have failed to meet the standards due to continually shifting compliance deadlines.

11 thermal power plants

Delhi-NCR is home to 11 thermal power plants. The CSE’s analysis focused on the emissions of particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, and sulphur dioxide from these coal-based thermal power plants. The analysis was based on the environmental status reports of these plants from April 2022 to August 2023, obtained from the Central Electricity Authority’s website.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change introduced stringent emission norms for coal-based power plants in December 2015, with a compliance deadline of two years. However, these norms have been diluted for several parameters, and deadlines have been repeatedly postponed.

After the first deadline lapsed in December 2017, a five-year extension was granted to all power plants, except those in Delhi-NCR, due to the region’s high pollution levels. These plants were required to comply by 2019.

However, except for the Dadri TPP and the Mahatma Gandhi TPP, all the plants in NCR failed to meet the revised deadline and continued to operate in violation of the norms until another extension was granted in March 2021. At this point, the ministry classified all power plants into three categories - A, B, and C - based on criteria defined by the Central Pollution Control Board.

According to the new criteria, seven out of the eleven plants in Delhi-NCR were placed under category C, which allowed them more time to comply with the norms. As a result of these deadline extensions, Panipat TPP is likely to be the only plant that may not meet the emission norms by the compliance deadline.

However, Nivit Yadav, Programme Director, Industrial Pollution, CSE, points out that this does not necessarily mean that the emissions from the other plants are within the prescribed limits, as indicated by their current analysis.

High emissions spiking pollution in NCR

Eight years after the emission norms were introduced, and six years past the initial deadline, three power plants in the National Capital Region (NCR) – Harduaganj, Panipat, and GuruHargobind – are still reporting high suspended particulate matter emissions, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Yadav, a representative from CSE, suggests that minor changes in operational parameters and regular maintenance of electrostatic precipitators could significantly improve compliance where SPM norms are continuously unmet.

The government has already relaxed nitrogen oxide norms. With proper operational intelligence and modifications in plant boilers, nearly all plants should be able to meet these norms, say CSE researchers.

Despite the relaxation in norms and deadlines, four plants – Panipat TPS, Rajiv Gandhi TPP, Yamunanagar TPP, and GuruHargobind TPP – have exceeded the NOx norms multiple times during the reporting period.

In terms of sulphur dioxide, only the Mahatma Gandhi TPP in the NCR is within the prescribed limit. Dadri TPP has sulphur dioxide control equipment in place, but it has reported high SO2 readings 86% of the time during the reporting period. The reason could be either inadequate capacity of the FGDs, FGDs not in service, or very high sulphur content of the coal being used.

Coal plants exceed SO2 limits

All the coal power plants in the NCR have reported SO2 emissions up to three times over the prescribed limits.

Dr D D Basu, Former Director, CPCB, highthat SO2 converts to sulphates in the form of fine particulate matter – PM2.5 – which poses even a greater risk to health and environment. Therefore, controlling SO2 is crucial from the perspective of controlling particulate matter emissions.

Yadav said “CSE has been tracking and reporting on the status of implementation of the emission norms since its introduction in 2015. We have been advocating strict emission norms for coal power plants much before these were introduced by the MoEFCC".

He further added, "However, the extensions in deadlines and delays in meeting the norms have only resulted in bringing down the momentum and given coal TPPs a sense of security that they can continue to pollute and operate and not be held accountable. We cannot deny our growing energy needs and the operational issues with regard to shutting down plants, but this should not become the excuse for power generators to take environment and health of the people for granted.”

He adds: “The plants may not be in violation of the 2015 notification due to the extended deadlines granted to them to comply with the norms, but such high emissions of PM, NOx and SO₂ will only worsen the pollution in NCR.”

Says Roychowdhury: “Instead of delaying the timeline, there should be more focus on the enablers in terms of strong compliance and deterrence mechanisms as well as incentives and a one-time support for fast tracking change and for time-bound implementation. This is a critical regional strategy for the cleaning up of the airshed.”

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