(a) the details of coal-based power plants given environmental clearance during the last five years;
(b) the details of coal-based power plants which have been shut down during the last five years due to environmental issues in the country;
(c) whether a number of old polluting coal-based power plants are still operational in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government has identified and ordered to shutdown such polluting plants and if so, the detail thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) The Ministry has granted total 26 Environmental Clearances (EC) under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, as amended to the coal based power plants during the last five years. The list of EC granted during the said period is at Annexure-I.
(b) As per information compiled by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), 126 coal based thermal power plant units have been shut down during March 2016 to June 2021 due to various reasons viz. techno-economic and commercial considerations including compliance of emission norms. The list of these coal based thermal power plant units including dates of retirement are enclosed at Annexure-II.
(c) & (d)The CEA in November, 2019 has identified 81coal based old and inefficient thermal power plant units for tentative retirement after examining on case to case basis. Out of these 81 units, 34 units have been retired up to June, 2021. MoEF&CC vide notification G.S.R. 243 (E) dated 31.03.2021 has prescribed specific time-line with conditions for compliance of emission norms. The notification also provides for retirement/shut down of units which are non-compliant of emission norms, along with levy of environmental compensation in case of delay in compliance of emission norms.
*****