The Turning Point in Indian Environment

Abstract

The human life in the earth may be continued without water for few days, without food for few weeks. However the human life in the earth may not be continued for few minutes without air. Air comes under. 24 ? 7 in our human system. In such condition, air plus sulphur dioxide is harmful to respiratory system which leads to premature deaths and reduction in life expectancy. It is a big shock to the nation that India becomes the highest emitter of sulphur dioxide of the world, surpassing the China. It is not a encouraging trend for us. Under these circumstances MOEF and CC has notified the norms for various pollutants including sulphur dioxide emission from thermal power plants in December 2015. The norms cover various size plants for various periods with various levels of emission, with a timeframe of two years as implementation schedule. This notification is a correct notification in correct direction, but with some time delay. This notification has put about 1800000 MW in study mode, mainly of coal fired units in nature. The sulphur dioxide emission may be well controlled by installing flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) system in boiler flue gas path. By injecting lime in the flue gas path, sulphur dioxide is converted to calcium sulphite and then by reacting with oxygen, it is converted to calcium sulphate. Thus the flue gas is purified from sulphur dioxide. India has to import this technology. Technology transfer is a difficult task especially on commercial terms. This article narrates the various happenings in the country after the publication of notification.so that the reader gets the overall picture in single presentation. The implementation of the flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) system in Indian thermal power plants as early as possible, may improve the environment prevails in the country. This paper deals with various issues related to Sulphur dioxide emission and reduction measures.