More than 300 coal power plants across the country are still violating the emission standard norms notified by the MoEFCC in 2015. A group of doctors, lawyers, civil society organizations and residents have come together to point to new and alarming findings of increasing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in India since 2012. These norms were to come into effect by 7th December 2017. But despite being given two years to implement these norms, the Ministry of Power and Central Electricity Authority, along with power industry, is attempting to push the dates further by 5-7 years till 2022-24 and also relaxing the water usage limits.
To mark the emission deadline day (D-Day) a group of citizens, volunteers and activists from Greenpeace India, Help Delhi Breathe, My Right to Breathe, Jhatkaa, The Climate Agenda, URJA and many other groups representing people across India, gathered outside the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, to remind the minister of the expiring deadline tonight, and claiming their Right to Life & Clean Air.