An assessment of coal-based power plants (CBPP) in Karnataka has revealed that out of the state's total capacity of 9,480 MW, only 2.74% of the capacity is currently meeting the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission norms set by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The MoEFCC mandates that coal-fired thermal power plants install emission control equipment, such as Fuel-gas Desulfurization, to remove sulphur dioxide from waste gases.

According to the assessment conducted by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) in Delhi, as of April 2023, only 260 MW of capacity in Karnataka is in compliance with the emission norms, and none of these plants are state-owned. The emission norms were introduced in 2015, with a compliance deadline of 2017. However, the deadline was extended by five years for all coal-fired thermal power plants, setting the new deadline for installing emission control equipment as December 2022. The plants were categorized into three groups, each with a different compliance deadline.

However, as it became evident that most of the thermal power plants located near cities with populations of one million or more would not meet the December 2022 deadline, the MoEFCC decided to extend the deadline for all three categories by an additional two years.

The report also highlights that 600 MW of capacity is still in the feasibility stage, and nearly all power plants are expected to comply with the emission norms in due time. This high likelihood of compliance is attributed to the fact that all coal-fired thermal power plants in Karnataka fall under Category C, meaning they are located outside a 10 km radius of cities with populations of one million or more, critically polluted areas, or non-attainment cities. These plants have almost four more years to comply. Among the capacity expected to meet the norms, 75% have already awarded work orders to vendors for commissioning Fuel-gas Desulfurization systems, and 18% have opened bids. However, the Torangallu TPS (extension) with a capacity of 600 MW is still in the feasibility stage of compliance.

On a national level, the assessment reveals that only 5% of the coal power capacity in India (10,710 MW) is in compliance with SO2 emission norms, and 17% of the overall coal power capacity is still in the initial stages of compliance. Maharashtra has the highest capacity for complying with the norms, followed by Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu, according to a state-wise comparison.