The Supreme Court of India, on Wednesday, directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests to clarify its position regarding the proposed shortening of deadlines for thermal power plants to meet statutory emission norms. Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan raised concerns about the prolonged compliance timelines, particularly pointing out that out of 11 coal-based thermal power plants, only three meet the current pollution control standards.
During the hearing, the bench emphasized the need to reconsider the extension of deadlines for pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and non-SO2, which are currently set to extend until December 31, 2029. “The question is whether the timeline of compliance up to December 31, 2029, can be reduced. On the aspect of classification and on the aspect of reducing the timeline, we will need the response of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,” the justices stated.
The court’s directive came after discussions on a note submitted by amicus curiae Aparajita Singh, who highlighted that the original deadline for these plants to comply was back in 2017, yet little progress has been made. Singh advocated for expedited compliance, especially for power plants within a 300-kilometer radius of the National Capital Region (NCR), noting that none of the 11 plants are scheduled for retirement and thus should not be exempt from compliance.
In response, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati represented the Centre’s viewpoint, arguing that the decision to not retire any power plants was based on the country’s energy requirements. This stance comes despite the Supreme Court’s previous expressions of concern regarding the government’s leniency in extending deadlines for these plants to adhere to emission standards.
On December 30, 2024, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change issued a notification that extended the deadline for thermal power plants to meet SO2 emission standards, including timeframes for the installation of flue gas desulfurization systems.
The Supreme Court has requested the Ministry of Environment and Forests to submit its response three days before the next scheduled hearing on April 29, 2025, aiming to ensure a more rigorous review and potentially hasten the compliance process in a bid to mitigate environmental impact.
