There has been a significant drop in the level of sulfur dioxide (SO2) India A study conducted by IIT Kharagpur in the last decade compared to the previous three decades, has found. The reduction in SO2 emissions and concentrations is due to environmental regulation and the adoption of effective control technologies such as ‘scrubber’ and ‘flue gas desulfurization’, a study by a team of researchers from the Center for Oceans, River, Atmosphere, found. and the Institute of Earth Sciences (CORAL) said.
The institute spokesperson said that the study represents temporal changes in SO2 concentrations across India over the past four decades (1980-2020). The study noted that while thermal power plants contributed 51 per cent to the SO2 concentration, the construction sector’s share was 29 per cent, as estimated during that period.
Provisional analyzes suggest that SO2 concentrations in India increased between 1980 and 2010 due to the burning of coal and the lack of new technology to control emissions during that period. It states that economic growth and air pollution control can go hand in hand by adopting new technologies to reduce SO2 and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. “SO2 is an atmospheric pollutant and can be converted into sulfate aerosol under humid conditions. These aerosols can affect cloud reflectance, precipitation and regional climate.
“In high concentrations, SO2 has adverse effects on human health and the ecosystem,” commented Professor Jayanarayanan Kuttipurath, who led the study. Therefore, its continuous monitoring is highly necessary, as this type of analysis will help in decision-making related to emissions, he said.
“Our analysis identifies the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Central and East Indian regions as SO2 hot-spots in India. Although SO2 levels have decreased relative to the past decade, their concentration is still very high in these regions. “Therefore, we need to continue our efforts to reduce SO2 emissions in India, whether through innovative technologies or environmental regulations,” said Vikas Kumar Patel, another author of the paper.
Professor VK Tiwari, Director of the institute said that since India is heavily dependent on coal based thermal power plants to meet its energy demands, it is necessary to formulate accurate and continuous mitigation strategies to curb the increasing air pollution in the country. An analysis of spatial and temporal changes in SO2 using observations is essential. Country.
“Since 2010, India’s renewable energy generation has also increased significantly when the country adopted a sustainable development policy. The shift from conventional coal to renewable sources in energy generation, solid environmental regulation, improved inventories and effective technology have led to the reduction of SO2 in the country. Will help in curbing pollution,” he said.
India’s nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement includes achieving about 40 per cent of cumulative electric power installed capacity by 2030 from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources. “This commitment will help reduce, and also help prevent, dependence on coal-based energy. SO2 pollution in future,” Tiwari said. The report noted that rapid economic growth during the period 2001–2010 led to such greater atmospheric concentration. However, technological advances and environmental policies during the last decade helped reduce atmospheric SO2 concentrations, it added.
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