Yet To Catch Up

Environmental protection norms that have been revised and updated since 2014 are considered not too stringent going by global benchmarks. But the Indian industry and authorities are still in the process of finding a common ground.

- B.s. Srinivasalu Reddy

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the new pollution norms for the Indian cement industry, which is the second largest producer in the world, in May 2016, with the primary aim of minimising pollution, in line with the country’s intent/commitments made at CoP21 at Paris last year. The deadline for which was set at March 31, 2017.

It may be recalled that India’s Paris commitments include reduction of the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030, from 2005 level; achieving about 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030, and introduction of new, more efficient and cleaner technologies in thermal power generation.

The new pollution limits, after consultations with the industry and regulators, were notified on May 9-10, 2016, with a deadline to comply by March 31, 2017. The new norms have made particulate matter (PM) emissions stringent by bringing them from 50150 milligrams per cubic metre (mg/Nm3) to 30 mg/Nm3. This limit depends upon the age and location of the plant.

The new norms relaxed the emission limit of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, one of the two key polluting gases released from industries. The limit of sulphur dioxide emitted from a cement plant was increased from 100 mg/Nm3 to 100-1,000mg/ Nm3. This limit depends on sulphur content in limestone, a raw material for making cement. The limit for nitrogen oxide was relaxed from 600 to 800 mg/Nm3 to 600-1,000 mg/Nm3.

“This should come as a surprise because China, which is the largest producer of cement, has set the limit for the former to 200 mg/Nm3 and for the latter to 400-800 mg/Nm3,” say Kanika Bahel, Sanjeev Kumar Kanchan of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

SOURCES OF POLLUTION