Question : EMISSION STANDARDS FOR POWER PLANTS

(a) the emission standards prescribed for power plants in the country and the actual level of emission as compared to some of the industrialised countries as well as Japan and China;

(b) whether India do not have emission standards for some hazardous pollutants from power plants, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government proposes to launch new emission standards for power plants including mercury and nitrogen dioxide emissions, if so, the details thereof along with the extent to which the new emission standards is likely to reduce the hazardous pollutants from power plants;

(d) whether India has signed the Minamata Convention on phasing out mercury and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the time limit likely to be given to power generation companies to meet the new standards?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)&(b) The emission standards in terms of Particulate Matter (PM) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) have been notified for gas/ naphtha based power plants whereas it is for PM for coal based power plants depending upon power generation capacity, vintage, etc. Data on actual levels of emissions by power plants of China and Japan is not available. However, the actual level for PM in emission may vary between 30(new plants)-1000 mg /Nm3 (old plants) while level of Sulphur Dioxide between 157-1780 mg /Nm3 and Oxides of Nitrogen between 45-750 mg /Nm3 in India as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board.

(c) & (d). Proposal on revision of emission standards for power plants is not pending with the Government. However, Central Pollution Control Board has undertaken the task of revising the existing standards. India has recently signed the Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury, i.e. Minamata Convention on Mercury in September, 2014.

(e) does not arise.