Controversy over FGD Mandate: A study advises the Union Environment Ministry to roll back its 2015 policy mandating FGD installation in all Indian coal-fired plants.
Selective Application Proposed: The study suggests FGD implementation should be limited to plants using imported or high-sulfur (>0.5%) coal due to the low sulfur content of most Indian coal (0.3%-0.5%).
Cost and Implementation Issues: Only 8% of plants have installed FGD despite extended deadlines, with full compliance now pushed to 2027-2029. FGD installation costs ₹1.2 crore per MW.
Rationale for Rollback: The study argues that high stack heights and Indian climatic conditions already mitigate SO2 pollution. Furthermore, FGD increases CO2 emissions and freshwater consumption.
Acid Rain Not Significant: An IIT-Delhi study found that acid rain is not a major issue in India, questioning the necessity of widespread FGD implementation.
recommends focusing on controlling particulate matter (PM) pollution by installing electrostatic precipitators, which are cheaper and more effective for Indian coal’s high ash content. PM pollution is a bigger threat. Electrostatic precipitators cost only ₹25 lakh per MW and reduce PM pollution by 99%.
Global Warming Argument: The study highlights that removing short-lived SO2 emissions while increasing long-lived CO2
emissions through FGD could worsen global warming.
Study Origin: The study was commissioned by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser and conducted by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.
