CREA Study Highlights SO₂ Emission from Thermal Power Plants

According to a recently released study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), installing flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) technology in 12 coal-based thermal power plants within a 300-km radius of Delhi could reduce sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions by 67%. The CREA report highlights that power plants in Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura in Panjab, and Panipat in Haryana, emit 48, 35, and 40 kilotonnes of SO₂ annually, respectively. These could see emissions reduced by up to 83% with FGD installation. The study found that annual SO₂ emissions from National Capital Region’s thermal plants are 16 times higher than those from burning 8.9M tonnes of paddy straw — 281 kilotonnes versus 17.8 kilotonnes (SDW Vol 2, Issue 47, Story 6). Also, on 22 Nov, the Supreme Court of India (SCI) took note of an article in The Hindu, which revealed increased stubble-burning areas in Panjab and Haryana. The article stated that despite the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) informing the court of a ‘significant reduction’ in stubble burning, internal documents showed an increase, with farmers burning stubble after satellite passes to avoid detection. The court directed the CAQM to submit data and documents by 25 Nov. On 22 Nov, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Union govt., strongly opposed SCI’s proposal to form a committee of former apex court judges to oversee stubble-burning measures. Meanwhile, using aquaponics in their New Delhi apartment, farmers Peter Singh and Neeno Kaur have transformed their home into an exemplary clean-air sanctuary with an AQI of just 15, surpassing the purity of most Himalayan hill stations. The couple now promotes aquaponics in Delhi’s schools and conducts classes to inspire sustainable practices.