Patna: None of the six major thermal power plants in Bihar have flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems, which remove harmful sulphur dioxide (SO2), adding to the state’s air pollution, according to a report by an independent agency, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). According to the data, published earlier this week, the thermal power plants in Bihar emit 181 kilotonnes of SO2 annually, which is around 10 times more than the 17.8 kilotonnes emitted by burning of 8.9 million tonnes of paddy straw in Punjab and Haryana.
The FGD is a set of technologies that remove SO2 and other sulphur compounds from exhaust gases produced by fossil fuel power plants. An analyst at CREA, Manoj Kumar, said SO2 eventually gets converted into sulphate, secondary particles which are a major component of PM2.5, affecting the air quality. These secondary particles also have a longer lifetime and pose serious health risks.
According to the report, had the FGD system been fully implemented in the six plants, SO2 emissions could be reduced by an estimated 62%, from 181 kilotonnes per year to 68 kilotonnes per year. Plant-wise analysis showed that emissions from Barh thermal plant could be reduced by around 80%, from 63 to 13 kilotonnes per year. Similarly, at Nabinagar Super Thermal Power Project, SO2 could be reduced by 66% from 43 to 15 kilotonnes per year.
The CREA also compared the data of SO2 in Bihar with other states like Punjab and Haryana, which are always in limelight for paddy straw burning.
“While paddy straw burning causes seasonal spikes, thermal power plants represent a larger, persistent pollution source year-round, underscoring the need for stricter control on thermal power plant emissions,” read a part of the report.
State environment, forest and climate change department minister Prem Kumar said he will call for a review meeting on air pollution, which several cities in the state are facing, around November 25. “The lack of an FGD system will also be scrutinised. If it is not present in the thermal power plants, then authorities have to answer why they are missing and what action has been taken so far. Also, the state pollution control board will have to present its action plan to tackle the air crisis the state is facing. Environment plays an important role in one’s health, and this issue of air pollution needs to be resolved,” said Kumar.