Biggest Coal Polluters Around Delhi Are Those Govt Exempted From Installing Pollution Reduction Tech: Study
Visual Credits: Canva
An analysis of 37 coal plant units within a radius of 300 km of Delhi-NCR has found that 20 of them are emitting sulfur dioxide above the safe limits set by the government and the biggest polluters are plants the Centre has explicitly exempted from installing flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems, IE reported citing study by the Finland‑based nonprofit Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
The study warns that exemptions granted to Category C plants — that form nearly four‑fifths of India’s coal fleet — are now directly responsible for the bulk of unchecked emissions drifting into the Capital’s air. With over six million tonnes of sulfur dioxide released annually, India’s emissions from its power plants already stand highest in the world.
Air Pollution: NOIDA Used 60% NCAP Funds in Road Construction, Only 40% Spend to Cut Pollution, Data Reveals
Noida Authority utilised 60% of funds allocated under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) over the last five years, in building roads, the government used only 40% funds with most of the expenditure directed towards road construction. Dust mitigation measures, the Authority said, helped reduce PM10 levels by 20%, TOI reported.
Of the Rs 84 crore released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) between 2021 and 2026, Noida Authority has spent Rs 34 crore so far. Around Rs 22 crore (60%) were used to make roads, the newspaper said.
The petitioner, however, claimed that most of the work undertaken by the Authority existed only on paper while ground conditions continued to worsen. He also pointed out that the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board had imposed nearly Rs 30 crore in environmental compensation across roughly 2,200 air and dust pollution cases in Noida over the past decade, even when the Authority claimed that its pollution control measures had been effective.
Community Protests Over Cutting Hundreds of Years Old Trees to Expand Rishikesh Highway to Four Lane, HC Clears Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala Four-lane Project
There have been community protests and social media outrage over felling of old growth trees to expand the existing highway to four-lane through the dense Himalayan forests of Rishikesh.
Earlier, Uttarakhand high court dismissed a contempt petition filed by environmentalists against NHAI project director in the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala four-lane road project, holding that National Highways Authority of India had not disregarded any court order and that no interim stay or restriction on tree felling was currently in force. A single bench of justice Pankaj Purohit passed the order, TOI reported adding that the petitioners had alleged that felling of trees for the project violated earlier HC directions, but the court noted that while disposing of a PIL on Jan 9, it had already recorded that the dispute linked to the much-discussed elephant corridor had been fully resolved by Supreme Court.
Delhi Launches ₹8,300 Crore Air Pollution Plan With 40% Backing From World Bank
Delhi government said it will launch a seven-year, ₹8,300-crore air pollution mitigation programme with 65% financial support from the World Bank, the remaining will be the Delhi government’s responsibility, reported HT. Earlier, the Work Bank had signed contracts to help with clean air projects worth around ₹2,800 crore each in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
The initiative, titled ‘Clean Air, Healthy Delhi’, will run alongside existing plans to reduce Delhi’s pollution. Air pollution sources, such as transport, construction and demolition waste, road dust, solid waste management and industries will be key focus.
Plan wants to set up a dedicated project management unit (PMU) to oversee the implementation of the project. Set up upgraded air quality monitoring systems. Enhance capabilities to analyse data more accurately and effectively. Put in place an integrated command and control centre-based monitoring platform
The project will also focus on emissions from the transport sector. Efforts to phase out older and more polluting vehicles. Promote the use of electrical vehicles. Improve public transportation systems. Develop an advanced Pollution Under Control (PUC) monitoring system to strengthen oversight of vehicular emissions.
