CAQM issues notice to 6 thermal plants for failing biomass co-firing rules

New Delhi: In a major regulatory push to curb worsening air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued show-cause notices to six large coal-based thermal power plants located within a 300-kilometre radius of Delhi.

The plants, based in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and elsewhere, are accused of failing to comply with biomass co-firing requirements mandated under the Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023.

Under the rules, thermal plants must progressively blend a minimum share of biomass pellets/briquettes (3–5% by material energy input) with coal, a step intended to provide an ex-situ use for agricultural residue, reduce farmers’ reliance on stubble burning, and cut emissions.

However, compliance was found to be “unsatisfactory” during FY 2024–25, with most plants reporting biomass co-firing well below required thresholds.

CAQM has proposed environmental compensation totaling over ₹61 crore, and the power plants have 15 days to respond before further penalties or enforcement action is taken.

Despite some improvements reported in recent years, air quality in Delhi remains among the worst in the world especially during winter months when stubble burning, vehicle emissions, industrial activity, and climate conditions combine to trap pollutants.

On December 24, 2025, Delhi’s AQI hovered around 349 (“very poor”), with smog disrupting flights and trains across the city.

In parts of NCR (including Noida and Ghaziabad), AQI crossed 400 (“severe”), exposing residents to conditions that pose serious health risks.

Persistent air pollution is not just a seasonal phenomenon. Long-term data and satellite analysis confirm that Delhi’s annual average particulate pollution far exceeds national and global standards.

For the period March 2024, February 2025, Delhi’s annual mean PM2.5 concentration was about 101 µg/m³, more than twice India’s national limit (40 µg/m³) and 20 times higher than the WHO guideline.

Particulate matter, especially PM2.5 and PM10 can penetrate deep into lungs and bloodstream, contributing to heart and lung diseases, strokes, and premature death.

Though efforts under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and CAQM have led to some reduction in pollution episodes and an increase in “good” air quality days in 2025, the absolute levels still pose grave risks.