Reduce emissions at lower costs

The total cost of implementing these retrofits could be in the order of Rs 750 billion

New emissions standards for thermal power plants were notified in December 2015. Plants had to comply by December 2017 — but failed. Having dragged their feet for over two years, power plants now have yet another opportunity to comply over a five-year period that ends in 2022. But the pathway to implementation remains unclear. 

Air quality is no longer a seasonal irritant, nor solely the concern of environmentalists. A public health crisis is looming. It will adversely impact public and private spending on health care, make India’s cities less attractive for investment, and weaken long-term productivity, thanks to an unhealthy population.