Health Problems Due to Emission From Coal Plants In India

The Government is aware of the report titled “ Coal kills- An assessment of death and disease caused by India’s dirtiest energy source” which was jointly published by Conservation Action Trust(a non-profit organization) Urban emission (air pollution research firm) and Greenpeace India in Dec 2012 (Annexure-I). The report shows that in 2011-12, emission from Indian coal plants resulted in 80,000 to 1,15,000 premature deaths and more than 20 million asthma cases from exposure to total PM pollution. The study quantified additional health impacts such as hundreds of thousands of heart attacks, emergency room visits, hospital admission and also the estimated monetary cost associated with these health impacts exceeds Rs. 16,000 to 23,000 crores per year.

The Central Pollution Control Board has informed that following steps have been taken to curb the pollution emitting from such coal based power plants,

(i) Developed emission and effluent standards for control of air & water pollution.

(ii) To minimize dust generation, power plants have been directed to use beneficiated coal (low ash coal). In this regard, a notification has been issued.

(iii) In order to mitigate problems related to flyash utilization has been made mandatory since September 1999. A gazette notification has already been issued.

(iv) Under Corporate Responsibility for Environment Protection ( CREP), all coal based power plants have asked to provide as water recirculation system (AWRS) which intern will help in water conservation and pollution in nearby water body.

(v) Emphasis is given to cleaner cool technology (Like super critical, circulating flute dies bad combustion) while granting environmental clearance to new coal based thermal power plants.