India threatens to close 14 coal plants

The plants failed to meet environmental standards.

Reuters reports that India’s pollution authority is threatening to close down 14 coal-fired power plants that fail to comply with environmental standards.

The power plants, nine of which are around India’s polluted capital, New Delhi and five of which are in south Indian states, account for over 7% of India’s coal-fired utility capacity.

The plants have been given 15 days to respond to the notices sent on 31 January, the documents showed.

Shutting the plants could further dent India’s thermal coal imports, which fell for three straight months between August and October, according to the latest Indian government data.

In one of the letters dated 31 January to the general manager of the Vedanta Ltd-operated Talwandi Sabo Power plant in the northern state of Punjab, India’s Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Chair cited a host of alleged violations.

Here’s more from Reuters.