India's pollution regulator ponders coal plant penalties

(Reuters News, 29 Jan 2020) The regulator warned last year coal-fired plants could be shut down for failing to meet deadlines.

Authorities are assessing how seriously to punish the operators of coal-fired plants around New Delhi that missed a year-end deadline to fit equipment to curb harmful emissions, a senior official at the federal pollution regulator said on Wednesday.

Under a planned phase-in of higher standards, some plants were given until the end of December, while others had until the end of 2022. Most plants so far have missed their deadlines.

Prashant Gargava, member secretary at the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), said action taken against non-compliant power plants will take into consideration any efforts made so far.

"Action has to be based on the level of progress that they have made individually, and we are working on that," Gargava said at the TERI World Sustainable Development Summit 2020 in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The regulator warned last year coal-fired plants could be shut down for failing to meet deadlines.

Only one out of the 11 plants around New Delhi has installed equipment to cut emissions of sulphur oxides. Four of the remaining 10 plants have awarded bids for retrofitting the technology, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said.

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Reuters News, 29 Jan 2020: India's pollution regulator ponders coal plant penalties