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Opinion
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| The Sulphur and climate goals | | | | An axe to grind that has unfortunately made us concerned about the theory of Sulphur. More things to learn is that in adoption of new techniques or to make any wonders of science the applications of new theories are also notable with recognition of merits and demerits. For creations or inventions of new ideas into the world of science the attitude of scientists never keep in mind some demerits that causes us damages. Due to manufacturing the polyethene bags F16, the badly growing gases against the green environmental science cause blasts of havoc for summarizing the number of diseases in the physical environment of human scientific subjects. To Increase the quantity and percentage of photosynthesis levels for a healthier environment the efforts are to reduce the SO2 quantity in the subject of environmental science.
The Environment Ministry has exempted the majority of India’s coal-fired plants from mandatorily installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems to reduce the SO2 quantity in the subject of environmental science. The images on atlas are designed to cut Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions and preparation for the installation programme got initiated in effect, this undermines its own mandate from 2015 that required all such plants — there are about 180 of them now, comprising 600 units — to install these systems. While these were expected to be in place by 2017, only about 8% of the units have actually installed FGD — nearly all by the public-sector National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). SO2 is among the gases monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as exposure beyond a degree can be harmful.
Less appreciated is its propensity to form sulphates in the air and contributing to particulate matter pollution. In general, India’s average ground-level SO2 measurements have been below the permissible levels — one among several reasons that there has not been a sense of urgency in implementing FGD norms. The official reasons are the limited number of vendors in India, high installation costs, the potential rise in electricity bills, and disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the latest deadlines flew by in 2024, the Environment’s Ministry’s decision — it follows consultations with scientific institutions and new commissioned studies — is a sharp disavowal of the current policy.
An expert appraisal committee says that Indian coal is low in Sulphur; SO2 levels in cities near plants with operational FGD units do not differ significantly from those without these units, and all of these were anyway well below permissible levels. The committee had said that concerns about sulphates are unfounded. It also argued, echoed by the Minister for Power, that sulphates had a beneficial side-effect in suppressing warming from greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, reducing sulphates would actually worsen warming and compromise India’s climate goals. While IPCC assessments do account for the heat-suppressing action of sulphates, nowhere is it projected as an unalloyed good. | | | | |
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