Coal-based power is one of the most resource-intensive and polluting industries. In 2015, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had introduced stricter environmental standards for this sector under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The deadline for meeting these norms is 2022 Ð but with just two years to go, most plants do not seem to have taken adequate action nor made significant progress towards meeting them.
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) believes India needs to build in an ecosystem of incentives and deterrence measures which can push the implementation of the norms. As part of its advocacy initiatives to do this, CSE has developed a new concept Ð that of `first run', which would encourage cleaner power stations to work on a priority basis. ªThis could act as a catalyst to drive the coalfired power sector to meet the 2015 emission standard deadlines as a matter of urgency,º say CSE experts.
We invite you to an open webinar to discuss and debate this issue, and to introduce the new concept. Our panel of eminent expert speakers include Bibek Debroy, Chairperson of the Prime Minister's Economic Council; Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Secretary, Union Ministry of Power; Gurdeep Singh, Chairperson and Managing Director, NTPC Ltd; Anil Sardana, Managing Director and CEO, Adani Transmission Ltd; and Nivit K Yadav, Programme Director, Industrial Pollution, CSE. The session will be anchored and moderated by CSE Director General Sunita Narain. Key stakeholders representing regulatory agencies, civil society organisations, power plants and academia are also being invited to participate in the discussions.
For any other details, please contact Sukanya Nair, sukanya.nair@cseindia.org / 8816818864.
