The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2021, under which it has extended the timelines for complying with the emission norms by coal-based thermal power plants (TPPs). The amended rules allow TPPs within 10 km of the National Capital Region and in cities with more than 1 million population to comply with new emission norms by December 31, 2022; and TPPs in non-attainment cities and those within 10 km of critically polluted areas by December 31, 2023. Meanwhile, TPPs in the rest of the areas have to comply with the norms by December 31, 2024. TPPs declared to retire before December 31, 2025 are not required to meet the specified norms in case such plants submit an undertaking to the Central Pollution Control Board and the Central Electricity Authority for exemption on the ground of retirement. Besides, the new rules levy environment compensation on non-retiring TPPs, in case of non-compliant operation beyond the timeline.
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