India amends compliance timelines for SO2 emission standard and environmental compensation rates for thermal power plants 
On September 5, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC) published and enforced the “Environment (Protection) Second Amendment Rules, 2022”, which amend the compliance timelines for emission standards and environmental compensation rates for thermal power plants stipulated in the “Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986”. The emission standard for sulfur dioxide (SO2) has been set separately for each category of thermal power plant (there is no change to the timelines for compliance with emission standards other than SO2), and environmental compensation per unit of power generated has been raised for non-compliance by non-retiring units (setting of environmental compensation per category has been discontinued).
Table-I:
| Sl. No. | Category | Location/area | Timelines for compliance (Non-retiring units) |
Last date for retirement of units for exemption from compliance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| parameters other than SO2 emissions | SO2 | parameters other than SO2 emissions | SO2 | |||
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) |
| 1 | A | Within 10 km radius of National Capital Region or cities having million plus population | 2022.12.31 | 2024.12.31 | 2022.12.31 | 2027.12.31 |
| 2 | B | Within 10 km radius of Critically Polluted Areas or Non-attainment cities | 2023.12.31 | 2025.12.31 | 2025.12.31 | |
| 3 | C | Other than those included in category A and B | 2024.12.31 | 2026.12.31 | 2025.12.31 | |
The thermal power plant declared to retire before the date as specified in column (6) or (7) of Table-I shall not be required to meet the specified norms for parameters other than SO2 emissions in case such plants submit an undertaking to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA) for exemption on ground of retirement of such plant. Provided that such plants shall be levied environment compensation from the dates as specified in column (4) or (5) of Table–I, at the rate of rupees 0.40 per unit electricity generated in case their operation is continued beyond the date as specified in the undertaking.
There shall be levied environment compensation on the non-retiring thermal power plants, after the date as specified in column (4) and (5) of Table-I above, as per the rates specified in Table-II.
Table-II:
| Non-compliant operation beyond the Timeline | Environmental Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated) |
|---|---|
| 0-180 days | 0.20 |
| 181-365 days | 0.30 |
| 366 days and beyond | 0.40 |
Environment (Protection) Second Amendment Rules, 2022 (G.S.R. 682(E)):
https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2022/238614.pdf
- Emission standard for thermal power plants (Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2015 (Notification dated December 7, 2015):
https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2015/167141.pdf - Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2021:
https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2021/226335.pdf
