Power Min seeks more time for coal plants to install emission cutting tools

The environment ministry will take the final call on the power ministry's proposal

India's federal power ministry has proposed a new deadline for coal-fired power plants around New Delhi to install equipment to reduce emissions, a government official said on Friday.

If the proposal is accepted, it would pose a further challenge to authorities in India's capital New Delhi grappling with pollution that can cause lung disease and blights air quality.

The ministry has said that the power plants be given deadlines starting July 2020 and ending December 2021 to install the equipment, the government official, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.

The last deadline for installing such equipment ended on Dec. 31,