Supreme Court Seeks Joint Plan to Curb Emissions from Thermal Power Plants

The Supreme Court has directed the Ministry of Power to convene a joint meeting with the Central Electricity Authority and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to prepare a national roadmap for decarbonising coal-based thermal power plants.

A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar expressed concern over rising pollution in Delhi-NCR and noted that few plants had installed flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems despite regulations. It also flagged a recent notification weakening 2015 emission norms.

The authorities have been asked to file a joint affidavit within four weeks. The matter will be heard next on August 19.

[Ridhima Pandey v Union of India & Ors.]