FGD Exemption for Thermal Power Plants in India: A Step Forward or Regulatory Rollback?

✍️ By Suryavanshi IAS | Date: 14 July 2025

📌 Context:

On 14 July 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued a note clarifying its recent decision to exempt a majority of India’s thermal power plants from installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units. This has stirred debates around environmental protection vs. economic practicality.

🔬 What is Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)?

FGD is a pollution control technology used in coal-based thermal power plants to remove sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from exhaust flue gases.

✅ Purpose:

Reduce SO₂ emissions.
Improve air quality.
Prevent acid rain.
Comply with national environmental standards.

🏭 Background:

In 2015, MoEFCC made FGD mandatory for all thermal power plants.
Only 8% of ~180 thermal plants have installed FGDs till now.
Reasons for non-compliance:
- High cost (~₹1.2 crore per MW).
- Limited availability of FGD systems.
- Multiple deadline extensions.

📢 New Policy (2025) Highlights:

Category	Criteria	FGD Mandate	Deadline
A	Within 10 km of NCR or 1 million+ cities (2011 Census)	Mandatory	30 Dec 2027
B	Within 10 km of CPAs or NACs	Case-by-case (Expert Appraisal Committee)	30 Dec 2028
C	All others	Exempted	—

Only 11% of thermal units (Category A) must install FGD.
78% of plants (Category C) are completely exempt.

🧪 Ministry's Justification:

India's ambient SO₂ levels are already declining.
Coal in India is low in sulphur (~0.5%) but high in ash.
A 2023 study across 492 cities found only Dehradun and Kolar exceeded SO₂ limits.
No significant difference found between cities with/without FGD-equipped plants.
Marginal gain in PM2.5 reduction even with full SO₂ elimination.
Estimated cost: ₹2.54 lakh crore → "Disproportionate" to the benefits.

🧠 Critical Analysis for UPSC:

✅ Pros:

Cost-effective regulation focused on the worst-affected areas.
Resources can be diverted to cleaner technologies (e.g., renewables).
Reflects a data-driven policy shift.

❌ Cons:

Signals dilution of previous environmental commitments.
Risk of political misuse of data and regulatory capture.
Long-term health and environmental costs may be ignored.
Global perception of India’s climate leadership may suffer.

🌍 Relevant Concepts for UPSC:

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs)
Non-Attainment Cities (NACs)
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 13: Climate Action)

📝 Previous Year UPSC Questions:

🟡 Prelims 2020:

Q. Which of the following pollutants are released from coal combustion in power plants?

Carbon monoxide
Nitrogen oxides
Sulphur dioxide
Ozone

Select the correct answer:
A) 1 and 4 only
B) 2, 3 and 4 only
C) 1, 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

✅ Answer: C) 1, 2 and 3 only

🟠 Mains 2021 (GS Paper III – Environment):

Q. “Pollution from coal-based thermal power plants has been a major environmental issue in India.” Examine the policy measures taken by the Government to reduce emissions from such plants and suggest further reforms.

📚 Probable Mains Question (2025):

Q. Critically evaluate the recent policy shift of the Government of India in exempting thermal power plants from installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation units. Do you think this reflects a balance between development and environmental sustainability?

🧭 Way Forward for Aspirants:

Link this topic to environmental governance, pollution control technologies, and energy policy.
Prepare notes under GS Paper III (Environment and Energy).
Keep track of updates in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) norms and India's NDC commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Quote CPCB and MoEFCC data in essays and answers.

📌 Keywords for Prelims Revision:

Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)
Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂)
Critically Polluted Areas (CPA)
Non-Attainment Cities (NACs)
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
EAC (Expert Appraisal Committee)
PM2.5

🎯 Final Take by Suryavanshi IAS:

While the MoEFCC’s move might appear pragmatic in cost-benefit terms, it risks setting a precedent of downgrading environmental commitments under the guise of scientific rationalisation. UPSC aspirants must engage with this issue from multiple perspectives – scientific, economic, social, and ethical – to develop balanced answers for both Prelims and Mains.

Suryavanshi IAS

Monday, July 14, 2025