MoEFCC notifies draft MoEFCC (Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Targets) Rules, 2025

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified amendments to the Environment (Protection) Rules and eased sulphur dioxide SO₂ compliance requirements for coal- and lignite-based thermal power plants. Category C plants are now exempt from SO₂ emission standards and are required to comply with stack height norms by December 31, 2029. Category A plants (located within a 10 km radius of the National Capital Region or cities with a population of at least 1 million) are mandated to install flue gas sulphurisation systems to comply with SO₂ norms by December 31, 2027. Category B plants (within 10 km radius of critically polluted areas or non-attainment cities) will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by an expert appraisal committee, with a default deadline of December 31, 2028 for units that do not opt for review.