more-inDemanding immediate remedial action against the over 300 coal power plants across the country violating emission standard norms notified by the Union Environment Ministry in 2015, a group of doctors, lawyers, civil society organisations and residents on Thursday pointed towards new and alarming findings of increased sulphur dioxide emissions in India since 2012. The new norms are related to limited emissions of particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and reduced water usage by coal powered thermal power plants. These emissions are key contributors to surging PM levels in India, with the coal power sector being a key contributor to air pollution. “Greenpeace India’s 2016 Out of Sight report had identified air pollution hotspots in India that are visibly linked to thermal power plants clusters. This will not be achieved without imposing stringent controls on polluting emissions by the power sector.”

Source: The Hindu December 07, 2017 20:23 UTC