Who owns plants that are over 25 years old

cannot be any excuse for delays in the case of new plants, as the notification was issued in December 2015. While the older generation plants have to retrofit the emission technologies, the new-generation plants have no such reason to delay the implementation of emission standards. The government must also issue directions to power companies to include regular monitoring of mercury, and review the implementation of water standard and issue directions for monitoring and compliance.

“The 2015 standards are in line with global regulations. According to rough estimates, their implementation can cut down emissions of PM by 35 per cent, SO by 80 per cent, and NOx by 42 per cent. They can also bring down freshwater use by the industry,” says the CSE report.

We need different systems for deterrence: one, in which there is both an incentive for the first movers—the plants that invest in upgrading their technologies and so reduce their emissions—and a disincentive for the laggards, who continue to pollute and compromise public health.

“We know that this sector, which provides energy to the country’s industry and households, is difficult to shut down. We are suggesting that there should be changes in the merit order dispatch system so that it provides an effective tool to incentivise the cleaner plants and reward the best performers, while also disincentivising units that do not adhere to standards,” adds Narain.

Coal-based Power Norms: Where do we stand today)