Delhi Pollution: How thermal plants that power your homes can help you breathe easier with this new tech
Emissions from Thermal Power Plants in the NCR
According to the CREA study, between June 2022 and May 2023, the thermal power plants around Delhi emitted 281 kilotonnes of SO2, a major pollutant contributing to poor air quality. The study identified 12 thermal power plants in and around Delhi that are responsible for a significant portion of these emissions. These plants include Dadri TPP, Guru Hargobind TPS, Harduaganj TPS, Indira Gandhi STPP, Mahatma Gandhi TPS, Panipat TPS, Rajiv Gandhi TPS, Rajpura TPP, Ropar TPS, Talwandi Sabo TPP, Yamuna Nagar TPS, and the Goindwal Sahib plant in Punjab, which is just outside the 300-km radius.
Slow Pace of FGD Implementation
The Indian government issued a directive in 2015, mandating all coal-based thermal power plants in the National Capital Region (NCR) to install FGD technology by 2017 to curb SO2 emissions. However, progress has been slow. While the Mahatma Gandhi Thermal Power Station in Haryana has fully installed FGD systems, and the Dadri Thermal Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh has partially done so, most other plants have missed several deadlines for installation.
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The original deadline was December 2017, followed by extensions in December 2019, March 2021, and December 2022. The most recent deadlines for some plants are December 2024, with others facing a final deadline of December 2026.
Despite these extended timelines, many plants have failed to meet the targets, sparking concerns about the government’s ability to enforce compliance. The CREA report points out
