Green activists are livid with Centre postponing the compliance date for thermal power plants to install emission regulation machinery for the sixth time.
According to the authorities, the land clearance is essential for the implementation of a high-investment power project estimated around Rs 40,000 crore.
Fly ash is the residue of coal combustion, which, if disposed of improperly, is hazardous. New govt rules include a system of environmental compensation based on polluter-pays principle.
The short supply may force plants to buy expensive imported coal or pay hefty premiums at domestic auctions, and raise costs across an economy already battling high fuel prices.
According to New Delhi-based CEEW, closing down old plants, which consume more coal than new ones, can help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, clean up air and reduce soil & water pollution.
With goods trains not plying in Punjab since 2 Oct, both govt & private thermal plants are facing acute coal shortage. Urea for farms is also not reaching state, leading to shortage.
TV news channels assured viewers that once the cloud-seeding was completed, rain could be expected anytime. 'Jab chaho, baarish kar lo,' claimed Times Now Navbharat.
Tajikistan did not want to extend the lease because of apparent pressure from Russia & China over non-regional military personnel at the air base, it is learnt.
On 21 Oct, a buzz went up that the govt had released full list of gallantry award recipients along with Op Sindoor citations. I put an AI caddy on the job. It took me into a never-ending rabbit hole.
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