G.S.R. 243(E) Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 192] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021/CHAITRA 11, 1943 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 31st March, 2021 G.S.R. 243(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3, 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, namely:— 1. (1) These rules may be called the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2021. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, in Schedule – I, in serial number 25 for letters, brackets and words ―*TPPs (units) shall meet the limits within two years from date of publication of this notification‖, the following shall be substituted, namely: - ―* (i) A task force shall be constituted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) comprising of representative from Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and CPCB to categorise thermal power plants in three categories as specified in the Table-I on the basis of their location to comply with the emission norms within the time limit as specified in column (4) of the Table- I, namely: - Sl. No. Category Location/area Timelines for compliance Non retiring units Retiring units 1 Category A Within 10 km radius of National Capital Region or cities having million plus population Upto 31 st December Upto 31 st December 2022 2 Category B Within 10 km radius of Critically Polluted Areas or Non-attainment cities Upto 31 st December Upto 31 st December 2025 3 Category C Other than those included in category A and B Upto 31 st December Upto 31 st December 2025 As per 2011 census of India. As defined by CPCB. (ii) the thermal power plant declared to retire before the date as specified in column (5) of Table-I shall not be required to meet the specified norms in case such plants submit an undertaking to CPCB and CEA for exemption on ground of retirement of such plant: Provided that such plants shall be levied environment compensation at the rate of rupees 0.20 per unit electricity generated in case their operation is continued beyond the date as specified in the Undertaking; (iii) there shall be levied environment compensation on the non-retiring thermal power plant, after the date as specified in column (4) of Table-I, as per the rates specified in the Table-II, namely:- the Timeline Environmental Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated) 0-180 days 0.10 0.07 0.05 181-365 days 0.15 0.10 0.075 366 days and beyond 0.20 0.15 0.10. ‖ NARESH PAL GANGAWAR, Jt. Secy. Note: The principle rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide number S.O. 844(E), dated the 19th November, 1986 and lastly amended vide notification G.S.R. 662(E), dated the 19th October, 2020. and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. ALOK KUMAR