Implications of Exempting 78% of Thermal Energy Crops
Context
- The Union Atmosphere Ministry has exempted 78% of India’s 600 thermal energy plant (TPP) items from putting in Flue Fuel Desulphurisation (FGD) programs.
- FGD programs are vital for lowering sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions, a precursor to acid rain and particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution.
- Solely about 11% of thermal crops — these in high-density/inhabitants areas — are nonetheless mandated to put in FGD programs.
Relevance : GS-3 – Atmosphere and Power; air air pollution, public well being, and emission requirements.
What are FGDs and Why Do They Matter?
| Function | Description |
| Objective | Reduces SO₂ emissions by as much as 95% from coal combustion |
| Mechanism | Makes use of limestone slurry or seawater to wash sulphur oxides from flue gasoline |
| Relevance | SO₂ contributes to PM2.5 formation, acid rain, respiratory and cardiac ailments |
| International Apply | Obligatory in China, US, EU for all coal-fired crops since early 2000s |
India’s Thermal Energy Air pollution Profile
| Indicator | Worth |
| Complete TPPs | ~180 (comprising 600+ items) |
| Share in electrical energy | ~72% of whole technology (as of 2025) |
| Share in SO₂ emissions | ~51% of all industrial SO₂ |
| Crops with FGD put in | Solely 8% (largely NTPC-run) |
| Exempted items post-policy | ~468 items (78%) |
Key Coverage Replace (July 2025)
| Class | Standards | FGD Mandate |
| Class A | Inside 10 km of NCR or Tier-1 cities | Obligatory |
| Class B | Inside 10 km of Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) or Non-Attainment Cities (NACs) | Case-by-case |
| Class C | All others | Exempted |
Consequence: Solely ~11% (Class A) will stay underneath FGD norms.
Foundation for Exemption: What Specialists Mentioned
The federal government relied on suggestions of a scientific panel led by Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Sood:
- Claimed Indian coal has low sulphur content material
- Discovered no main SO₂ distinction in areas with or with out FGDs
- Argued that sulphates suppress warming, so eradicating SO₂ might enhance internet radiative forcing
Counterarguments by Public Well being & Environmental Specialists
| Argument | Response |
| “Indian coal is low in sulphur” | However nonetheless emits sufficient SO₂ to drive PM2.5 in hotspots |
| “FGDs don’t enhance native air high quality” | Air high quality influence depends upon meteorology; long-range transport of SO₂ is nicely documented |
| “Sulphates cool the planet” | True — however co-benefits of SO₂ don’t outweigh public well being prices (respiratory sickness, strokes) |
| “FGDs are expensive” | Well being prices of SO₂ are 5x increased than set up prices (per WHO/ICMR research) |
International Requirements vs India’s Place
Implications of the Determination
- Environmental:
- Larger SO₂ emissions → elevated secondary particulate matter (sulphates)
- Weakens India’s dedication to air high quality enchancment underneath NCAP
- Potential rise in acid rain impacting crops, soil, monuments
- Public Well being:
- Threat of elevated respiratory and cardiovascular sicknesses
- Larger illness burden in rural areas close to exempted crops
- Financial:
- Disincentivises inexperienced tech funding within the energy sector
- Quick-term reduction for discoms & thermal producers, however long-term cost-shifting to well being sector
- International Commitments:
- Could influence India’s COP pledges on emissions depth
- Might weaken diplomatic stance on local weather finance and clear tech if home credibility erodes
Approach Ahead: Balancing Energy and Air pollution
- Reprioritise Focused FGDs: Mandate for crops close to dense populations, agricultural belts, and ecological hotspots.
- Subsidised Know-how Deployment: Viability hole funding for older crops; tie to ESG-linked financing.
- Built-in Emissions Monitoring: Obligatory on-line SO₂, NOx, PM reporting on public dashboard.
- Well being Value Valuation: Incorporate externalities into tariff-setting by CERC.
- Speed up Renewables: Scale back dependence on coal by scaling solar-wind-battery hybrids.
Leave a Reply