The statement came days after the Union environment ministry on July 11 extended deadlines and exempted a large number of coal plants from installing flue gas desulphurisation units

Coal production grew by 11.71% in 2023-24, reaching 997.83 million tonnes, up from 893.19 million tonne in the previous year, the report said

India has seen a dramatic boom in renewable energy installations - but that's not been enough to supply increasing power needs, prompting the government to also double down on coal power

About three-quarters of the coal-fired generators near major cities are set to miss a year-end deadline to install equipment to curb sulfur-dioxide emissions

India's efforts to combat severe air pollution face a setback as most coal-fired power plants are expected to miss a deadline for installing sulfur-dioxide emission control equipment.