In news
- FGD (Flue Gas Desulphurisation) is a pollution control technology used to remove sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from exhaust gases of coal-based thermal power plants.
- Helps reduce air pollution and acid rain caused by SO₂.
Policy Background:
- Introduced in India via MoEFCC’s 2015 notification.
- Mandated all thermal power plants to install FGD systems by 2018.
- Deadline delayed to 2027–2029 in phases due to implementation challenges.
Key Recommendations (Based on 2024 Study):
- FGD installation should be mandatory only for:
- Power plants using imported coal or
- High-sulphur domestic coal (>0.5% sulfur content).
- Not required for low-sulphur coal plants, which comprise the majority.
Key Findings:
- 92% of Indian coal has low sulphur content (0.3–0.5%).
- Indian stack heights and climatic conditions aid in natural dispersion of SO₂.
- Full-scale FGD implementation would:
- Use significant freshwater resources.
- Add 69 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions by 2030.
- Provide only marginal reduction in SO₂ levels.
- Acid rain is not a major concern in India, as per IIT Delhi’s 2024 study.
Mains Utility:
- Use this data to critically evaluate environmental policies.
- Supports arguments for context-specific environmental regulation and cost-benefit analysis in policymaking.
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