IIT Delhi Study: Curbing Coal Plant SO₂ Emissions Could Prevent 1.24 Lakh Deaths Annually

A new study conducted by researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has found that India could prevent an estimated 1.24 lakh deaths annually by fully controlling sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from coal-fired power plants. The research, published in the scientific journal Nature, highlights the major public health impact of emissions from coal-based thermal power stations and warns that delayed implementation of pollution-control measures continues to expose millions of people to harmful air pollutants across the country.

The study is among the first large-scale assessments in India to comprehensively measure how sulphur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants contribute not only to direct atmospheric SO₂ pollution but also to the formation of secondary fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. Researchers found that SO₂ released by thermal power plants chemically reacts in the atmosphere to produce secondary inorganic aerosols such as sulphates, nitrates, and ammonium particles, all of which significantly contribute to dangerous PM₂.₅ pollution linked to severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

According to the findings, reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants could lower annual PM2.5 exposure levels by between 0.3 and 12 micrograms per cubic metre across Indian states. Ambient sulphur dioxide concentrations could also decline by 0.1 to 13.6 parts per billion depending on the region. Researchers noted that even relatively small reductions in long-term PM2.5 exposure can produce major public health benefits because of the large population exposed to polluted air in India’s urban and industrial regions.

Also Read: Health Minister JP Nadda Inaugurates Summit on India's Healthcare Innovation and Best Practices

The report further stated that the implementation of India’s sulphur dioxide emission norms for coal-fired power plants has remained “slow, localised and uneven” despite regulations introduced several years ago. Researchers estimated that fully enforcing the existing standards could reduce SO₂ and PM2.5 emissions linked to coal power generation by more than 80 percent by 2030. The study stressed that delayed compliance by thermal power plants continues to weaken national efforts aimed at improving air quality and reducing pollution-related health risks.

Coal-fired thermal power plants remain one of India’s largest industrial sources of sulphur dioxide emissions due to the country’s continued dependence on coal for electricity generation. Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that unchecked emissions contribute not only to local air pollution but also to regional haze, acid rain, and long-term climate and health impacts. India has introduced emission-control requirements such as flue gas desulphurisation systems for thermal plants, but implementation has faced delays because of high costs, operational challenges, and regulatory extensions.

Researchers behind the IIT Delhi study said their findings underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of pollution-control measures and faster adoption of clean technologies in the power sector. Public health experts believe the study could influence future environmental policy discussions as India balances energy demand with air-quality concerns. The findings also add to growing scientific evidence linking industrial emissions to premature deaths and chronic illnesses, reinforcing calls for stronger environmental regulation and cleaner energy transitions in one of the world’s most pollution-affected countries.

Also Read: India Provides 13 Tonnes Of BCG Vaccines To Afghanistan To Boost TB Immunisation