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CAQM asks NCR states to adopt list of standard approved fuels

CAQM on June 8 announced the ban on use of coal in industrial, domestic and other miscellaneous applications in the Delhi-NCR region from January 1

Updated on: Jun 25, 2022, 01:14:41 IST
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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and its Adjoining Areas on Friday cited grave concern about air pollution and said it has issued directions to all NCR states to adopt a standard list of permitted fuels. The list will come into force from October 1 for the areas, where Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply is, available and from January 1 in other areas.

(AP)
(AP)

The approved fuels for NCR include petrol and diesel (BS VI and with 10 ppm sulphur), hydrogen/methane for vehicular and industrial purposes, natural gas (CNG, PNG and LNG), Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), propane/butane, electricity, aviation turbine fuel, biofuels, refuse derived fuel for power plants, cement plants. Firewood or biomass briquettes will be permitted for religious purposes.

Wood or bamboo charcoal will be permitted only for tandoors and grills of hotels, restaurants, banquet halls across NCR (with emission channelisation or control system) and at open eateries and dhabas. Wood charcoal will be permitted for cloth ironing as well. For crematoria, electricity, CNG, firewood and biomass briquettes are the permitted fuels.

The CAQM said effectively heavily polluting fuels such as coal (except low sulphur fuel for thermal power plants), light diesel oil, naptha -- a liquid hydrocarbon mixture -- along with any other fuels not mentioned in the permitted fuels list will be banned from January 1 across the NCR.

“Air pollution is a matter of grave concern across NCR and particularly from the standpoint of a common airshed approach...it is essential to have a standard list of approved fuels for various applications across all sectors in the entire NCR to achieve improved air quality. This direction has been issued considering the need to optimally balance the imperatives of sustainability of operations as also the emissions from the use of various types and categories of fuels that have a direct bearing on the air quality,” CAQM said in an order on Friday.

The CAQM on June 8 announced the ban on the use of coal in industrial, domestic and other miscellaneous applications in the Delhi-NCR region from January 1. The use of low-sulphur coal in thermal power plants was exempted from the ban.

Friday’s order said a specific requirement of any other fuel by a class or category of industries, owing to technical or technological requirements, can be considered on merits. It added a specific category of industries outside Delhi will be permitted the use of low sulphur fuels namely LSHS, very low sulphur fuel oil and ultra-low sulphur fuel oil for metal smelting, melting, refining and heating furnaces.

Metallurgical coke has been permitted for industrial purposes in standalone cupola-based foundries and biomass, agricultural refuse and pellets/briquettes for industrial boilers, power plants, biofuel projects, cement Industry.

  • Jasjeev Gandhiok
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Jasjeev Gandhiok

    Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.Read More