Initiatives taken to reduce pollution by thermal power plants

Government has taken several initiatives to reduce pollution caused by thermal power plants which includes making it "mandatory" for such plants falling within 50 km of sewage treatment plant to use treated sewage water, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"The government has initiated several measures to reduce pollution caused by thermal plants. It has been decided that coal fired capacity addition in 13th plan shall be through supercritical units only. Ultra mega power plants are based on super critical technology," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said.
He said the government has approved automatic transfer of coal linkage from inefficient power plants to new supercritical plants subject to certain conditions to promote setting up of supercritical units in place of old ones.

Javadekar said that advanced ultra super critical technology research and development project has been approved to achieve higher efficiency and reduce emissions from coal power plants.
"Revised stringent emission standards for coal based thermal power plants have been notified on December 7, 2015 by Environment Ministry.
"It has been decided that thermal power plants within 50 km of sewage treatment facilities will mandatorily use treated sewage water," the minister said.

Javadekar said that India has not taken any sector specific target in its Intended Nationall Determined Contributions (INDCs) to reduce emission intensity.
He said that the target will be achieved by implementing the policies and programmes in various sectors including promotion of clean energy, enhancement of energy efficiency, sustainable green transportation network, development of less carbon intensive and resilient urban centres, promotion of waste to energy projects and enhancing carbon sink through creation of forest and tree cover.

Javadekar added that the goals would be achieved by different missions and other plans and schemes of central and state government.