The Central Government on 31st March, 2021 has issued the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2021. The amendment provides that a task force shall be constituted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) comprising of representative from Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and CPCB to categorize thermal power plants in three categories on the basis of their location to comply with the emission norms within the time limit.
Category A plants are one’s within 10 km radius of National Capital Region or cities having million plus population and they shall comply with emission norms within 31st December 2022 .
Category B plants are one’s within 10 km radius of Critically Polluted Areas or Non-attainment cities and timeline for compliance with emission norms shall be 31st December 2023 in case of Non retiring units and within 31st
December 2025 in case of retiring norms.
Category C plants are all those not included in category A and B and timeline for compliance with emission norms shall be 31st December 2024 in case of Non retiring units and within 31st
December 2025 in case of retiring norms.
