The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a directive to ban the use of coal in industrial, domestic and various other applications in the Delhi-NCR region from 1 January 2023.
However, the use of low-sulfur coal in thermal power plants has been exempted. About 1.7 million tons of coal is used annually in industrial applications in the NCR.
In an order issued on June 3, the CAQM said the ban on the use of coal will come in force with effect from October 1 in areas having PNG infrastructure and supply and from January 1, 2023 in areas where the PNG supply is still not available.
“In full effect, the use of coal as fuel shall be banned across NCR with effect from January 1, 2023,” the panel said.
Delhi is among the world’s most polluted capital cities. The capital and its adjoining cities-Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad have mostly observed a daily AQI at around the 300-400 level mark, which as per the pollution index is considered to be the most toxic air.
Greenpeace India’s Avinash Chanchal welcomed the Commission for Air Quality Management’s decision to coal ban.
“Every year, air pollution from fossil fuels takes millions of lives, increases our risk of stroke, lung cancer and asthma, and costs us a huge amount of money. We are witnessing its impact on our daily lives. We also need to take into account the real cost of fossil fuels, not just for our rapidly heating planet, but also for our health, Chanchal told PTI.