Patna: Amid growing concerns over air pollution caused by thermal power plants in Bihar, the state’s environment, forest and climate change department is intensifying efforts to install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems in six major thermal power units. These systems are designed to reduce harmful emissions, particularly sulfur dioxide (SO₂), from mixing into the atmosphere.
The issue was a major focus during a review meeting held on Sunday, chaired by environment, forest and climate change minister Prem Kumar. Senior officials, including Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) chairman D K Shukla and member secretary Neeraj Narayan, participated in the meeting, which also reviewed pollution levels and the condition of six NTPC units in Bihar.
“Right now, work is in progress to install FGD systems in all power plants in the state,” said an SPCB press release quoting minister Prem Kumar, adding that the meeting seriously discussed the FGD issue.
The meeting discussed findings from a study conducted by CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur, and reviewed by NITI Aayog in August this year. The study highlighted the necessity of FGD systems, noting alarmingly high SO₂ levels in emissions from thermal power plants. A parallel study by IIT-Delhi is also underway to further assess pollution control measures.
The Union ministry of climate change has also mandated the installation of FGD systems in all thermal power plants across India by 2026. However, Bihar lags in implementing these systems as highlighted by a report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The report revealed that Bihar’s six major thermal plants emit approximately 181 kilotonnes of SO₂ annually — 10 times more than the emissions from burning paddy straw in Punjab and Haryana.
The six thermal power plants in the state are Barauni Thermal Power Station, Barh Super Thermal Power Plant, Buxar Thermal Power Plant, Kahalgaon Super Thermal Power Station, Kanti Thermal Power Station and Nabinagar Thermal and Super Thermal Power Project.
The meeting, however, expressed satisfaction over the improvement in the air quality index (AQI) this year as compared to the previous year. Officials said the presence of small dust particles such as PM2.5 and PM10 at excessively high levels had been impacting the AQI level in the state.