Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-12072025-264545
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025/ASHADHA 20, 1947
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 11th July, 2025
G.S.R. 465(E). - Whereas Sulphur dioxide emission standards were published by the Central Government
vide SO 3305(E) dated the 7th December, 2015 for coal and lignite based thermal power plants in the country, also
prescribing certain timelines, which were amended subsequently from time to time;
And whereas many representations were received regarding exemption or relaxation in timelines of these
emission standards due to limited availability of technology providers, its techno-economic feasibility, negative impact
of COVID19 pandemic on supply chain, price escalation due to high demand and low supplies, low Sulphur dioxide
concentration in ambient air and heavy burden on consumer due to increase in electricity prices etc., and explicit
recommendation of the Ministry of Power was received in this regard;
And whereas several studies were conducted by research institutions regarding effectiveness and rationale
behind these standards and its role in overall ambient air pollution of the region;
And whereas several stakeholder consultations were done with Industry, Ministry of Power, Central Pollution
Control Board, scientific institutions and other stakeholders regarding these emission standards and its timeline.;
And whereas a committee in the Central Pollution Control Board was constituted to examine the issue in totality,
assess the available study reports, other relevant materials and other related factors and make a recommendation on
applicability of these standards and its timeline;
And whereas the Central Pollution Control Board, after detailed analysis, has submitted its recommendation
based on its study on National Ambient Air Quality Standards of Sulphur dioxide across most of the regions of the
country; resource conservation in terms of avoiding additional consumption of water, auxiliary power, and limestone;
increase in carbon footprint or Carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere due to operation of control measures being
deployed, and mining and transportation of limestone required for these control measures; the techno-economic
feasibility of implementation of such control measures in all coal or lignite based Thermal Power Plants; and also
applying the precautionary principle for control and abatement of air pollution in densely populated areas and other air
pollution sensitive areas.
Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Environment
(Protection) Rules, 1986, namely: -
1. (1) These rules may be called the Environment (Protection) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, in Schedule - I, in serial number 25, for the entries beginning with "*
(i) A task force shall be constituted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)" and ending with "**Includes all the
TPPs (units) which have been accorded environmental clearance and are under construction" the following shall be
substituted, namely:-
" (a) A task force shall be constituted by Central Pollution Control Board comprising of representative from the Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority and the Central Pollution
Control Board to categorise the thermal power plants in three categories as specified in column (2) of the Table-I below,
on the basis of their location specified in column (3) of the said table, to comply with the emission standards:-
TABLE -I
+-----+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Sl. | Category | Location/area |
| No. | | |
+-----+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| (1) | (2) | (3) |
+-----+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1 | Category A | Within 10 km radius of National Capital Region or cities having million |
| | | plus population¹. |
| 2 | Category B | Within 10 km radius of Critically Polluted Areas² or Non-attainment |
| | | cities² |
| 3 | Category C | Other than those included in category A and B |
+-----+-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
¹ As per 2011 census of India.
² as defined by the Central Pollution Control Board.
(b) (i) The timelines for applicability of emission standards for parameters other than Sulphur dioxide emissions shall
be as follows:-
TABLE-II
+-----+-------------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Sl. | Category | Timelines for compliance| Last date for retirement of units for |
| No. | | (Non-retiring units) | exemption from compliance |
+-----+-------------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
+-----+-------------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 1 | Category A | Upto 31st December 2022 | Upto 31st December 2022 |
| 2 | Category B | Upto 31st December 2023 | Upto 31st December 2025 |
| 3 | Category C | Upto 31st December 2024 | Upto 31st December 2025 |
+-----+-------------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------+
(ii) the thermal power plant declared to retire before the date as specified in column (4) of Table-II shall
not be required to meet the specified standards for parameters other than Sulphur dioxide emissions
in case such plants submit an undertaking to Central Pollution Control Board and Central Electricity
Authority for exemption on ground of retirement of such plant:
Provided that such plants shall be levied environment compensation from the dates as
specified in column (4) of Table -II, at the rate of rupees 0.40 per unit electricity generated in case
their operation is continued beyond the date as specified in the undertaking in case the Thermal
Power Plant or Unit do not meet the specified standards.
(c) The Applicability of emission standards for Sulphur dioxide in thermal power plants shall be as follows:
i. the thermal power plants declared to retire before 31st December, 2030 shall not be required to meet the
specified standards for Sulphur dioxide emissions in case such plants submit an undertaking to Central
Pollution Control Board and Central Electricity Authority for exemption on ground of retirement of such
plant:
Provided that such plants shall be levied environment compensation from the 31st December
2030, at the rate of rupees 0.40 per unit electricity generated in case their operation is continued beyond
the date as specified in the undertaking without meeting the specified standards;
ii. the existing Category A thermal power plants shall comply with the Sulphur dioxide emission standards
by 31st December, 2027 and the Category A thermal power plants under commissioning shall also comply
with the standards before 31st December, 2027. Other category A plants to be commissioned after
31st December, 2027 will operate only after ensuring compliance of these standards;
iii. for all Category B Plants or Units, whether existing or upcoming, the applicability of Sulphur dioxide
emission standards, shall be decided on a case to case basis by the Central Government based upon the
recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee in charge of Thermal Power Projects constituted
under Environment Impact Assessment notification 2006 based on the appropriate scientific studies as
per the following procedure:
(a a) in case environmental clearance has already been granted, such plants or units may opt for
review of the applicability of Sulphur dioxide standards provided that concerned project
proponent applies for such review on the PARIVESH portal within six months of the date of
issue of this notification, in case Sulphur dioxide standards are decided as applicable, the same
shall be effective from 31st December, 2028 and in all other cases, the thermal power plant shall
comply with the stack height criteria notified vide notification number GSR 742 (E) dated the
30th August, 1990 by 31st December, 2028;
(b b) in cases of upcoming plants where EC has not been granted, the applicability of Sulphur dioxide
standards and the date of its coming into force or otherwise will be as specified in environmental
clearance granted to each such projects following the procedure as laid down in Environment
Impact Assessment notification 2006 as amended from time to time and in cases, where the
Sulphur dioxide standards are not made applicable, the thermal power plants shall comply with
the stack height criteria notified vide notification number GSR 742 (E) dated the 30th August,
1990;
(c c) these standards for Sulphur dioxide emissions shall be applicable with effect from the
31st December, 2028 in respect of all those plants or units which have not opted for review
within the given timeframe as specified in para (i) above;
iv. the Sulphur dioxide emission standards shall not be applicable to all Category C thermal power plants
subject to ensuring compliance of stack height criteria notified vide notification number GSR 742 (E),
dated the 30th August, 1990 and the time line for ensuring compliance by the existing Category C
Thermal Power Plants of stack height criteria by the 31st December, 2029.
(d) The Central Government may, on the recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board, by an
order grant extension of timelines to thermal power plants from compliance of Sulphur dioxide
emission standards.
(e) There shall be levied environment compensation on the non-retiring and non-compliant thermal power
plants, after the date as specified in column (4) of Table-II and the date specified in paragraph (b), (c) &
(d), as per the rates specified in Table-III.
TABLE-III
+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Non-Compliant operation beyond the Timeline| Environmental Compensation (Rs. per unit |
| | electricity generated) |
+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 0-180 days | 0.20 |
| 181-365 days | 0.30 |
| 366 days and beyond | 0.40". |
+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
[F. No. Q-15017/40/2007-CPW]
NEELESH KUMAR SAH, Jt. Secy.
Note: The Principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (i)
vide number S.O. 844(E), dated the 19th November, 1986 and last amended vide notification number
G.S.R 446(E) dated the 3rd July, 2025.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. KUMER CHAND
MEENA
Date: 2005.07.12 01:36:14+0530