Activists ask Vardhan to get pollution norms for thermal power plants implemented

Activists have urged Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan to implement the new emission and water use norms, aimed at reducing air pollution and high water consumption, for coal-fired thermal power plants.
Expressing concern over reports that the norms may be diluted and deadlines of its implementation extended, 63 signatories from civil society organisations, medical professionals and concerned citizens have written to Harsh Vardhan asking his ministry to release an interim report on the 'status of implementation' of the norms to dispel rumours.
In December 2015, the Ministry had notified new and tighter norms for emissions from coal-based thermal power plants and their water use. It was a step towards addressing these concerns about air pollution and high water consumption by thermal power plants.

New thermal power plants (TPPs) installed after January 1, 2017 have to meet these norms at commissioning itself, while most existing TPPs have to conform with it by December 2017.
"More than 17 months have passed since the notification came into existence and yet no progress has been made towards controlling the emissions from these coal power plants," senior campaigner of Greenpeace India, Nandikesh Sivalingam said.
"These delays in the implementation come at the expense of our lives and the government must assess the loss of public health before diluting and delaying the emissions standards," he said.

Other leading health practitioner communities and activists have reiterated the serious health impacts posed by emissions from thermal power plants and endorsed the demand of not diluting or extending the deadline.

"As a medical doctor, Harsh Vardhan is aware of the importance of strict air emission norms to protect public health. Each year, thousands of people are dying.
"Many are suffering from respiratory ailments, dermatological and psychiatric diseases triggered by toxic air. Thermal plants contribute majorly to worsening the air quality," Vice President (South) of Indian Public Health Association Sree Karuna Murthy Kolli said.
Noting that Indian cities have acquired a notoriety globally for their poor air quality, Kolli said by bringing the notification, the Ministry has committed to a reduction of Particulate Matter (PM), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and mercury in air.

"We are now urging the minister that public health and not economics should be considered, while taking decisions. And keeping public health in mind, the thermal power plant emission norms should not be diluted and its implementation not deferred," Koll said.
The organisations asked the Ministry to issue an unambiguous, clear statement that the norms shall not be diluted nor the timeline extended.