Air Pollution from Coal Plants in India

Air Pollution from Coal Plants has become a serious environmental and public health issue in India.

Coal-based thermal power plants are among the largest sources of SO2 emissions, a pollutant that converts into PM2.5—dangerous fine particles that significantly deteriorate air quality and harm human health. Despite regulations introduced in 2015, most coal plants have failed to comply, leading to widespread concerns.

This article covers all aspects of this issue in detail, making it highly relevant for SSC exam preparation under the General Awareness and Environment sections.

Background: Understanding the Role of FGDs

India’s dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal, has led to excessive coal pollution. When coal is burned in power plants, it releases sulphur dioxide (SO2), a major contributor to air pollution from coal plants. This pollutant is a known trigger for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

To address this, the Indian government mandated the use of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units in 2015. FGDs are pollution control systems that reduce SO2 emissions by converting them into harmless compounds like gypsum.

These are crucial in reducing thermal plant emissions and improving ambient air quality near power plants.

2025 Policy Update: Extension of Deadline

Despite clear scientific evidence, the government recently extended the FGD installation deadline from December 2024 to December 2027 for coal-fired plants near major cities and the National Capital Region (NCR). Plants in less polluted regions were exempted if they met certain stack height criteria.

The Ministry of Environment cited:

• COVID-19-related delays

• Techno-economic constraints

• Studies by NEERI, NIAS, and IIT Delhi

• Recommendations from the Ministry of Power

However, this move has intensified the debate around air pollution from coal plants and its impact on national health.

Scientific Criticism and Opposition

The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has strongly opposed the decision. It argues that relying on ambient SO2 levels instead of actual stack emissions misrepresents the true picture. The purpose of SO2 emission control technologies like FGDs is to target emissions at the source, not depend on fluctuating ambient readings.

CREA also pointed out that narrowing the scope of studies to select cities ignores the larger impact of air pollution from coal plants, especially in rural and industrial belts.

Environmental and Health Effects

The negative impact of air pollution from coal plants extends beyond local areas. Studies by IIT Delhi have shown that FGDs can reduce ambient particulate matter pollution by 10–20% and lower sulfate aerosol concentrations up to 200 km away from the emission source.

Health Risks Due to Coal Plant Emissions:

• Chronic respiratory diseases

• Asthma

• Cardiovascular issues

• Increased infant and elderly mortality

The delay in the FGD technology India rollout could result in tens of thousands of additional premature deaths in the coming years, especially with planned capacity additions of 80–100 GW.

Economic and Operational Feasibility

Critics of FGDs argue they are expensive and lead to prolonged power plant shutdowns. However, data from NTPC—India’s largest power producer—disproves this. Most FGD units were installed during scheduled maintenance, with no significant downtime.

Current status:

• FGDs are operational in plants with 20 GW capacity

• FGDs under progress for another 47 GW

This proves that large-scale implementation of pollution control systems is both technically and economically viable.

National and Cross-Boundary Pollution

The impact of air pollution from coal plants is not limited to industrial regions. During winters, coal-fired emissions contribute heavily to PM2.5 levels, especially in northern India. This cross-border air pollution from coal affects neighboring states and even countries like Bangladesh and Nepal.

Interestingly, coal power plant pollution is now nearly equal to vehicular pollution, which has already seen strict government norms on air pollution like BS-VI fuel standards. A similar urgency is needed for thermal energy generation.

SSC Exam Key Points