New Delhi, July 13 -- The government has relaxed the universal implementation of the flue-gas desulphurization (FGD) systems at coal-based power plants across the country, in a move that is likely to lower electricity prices.

A 12 July notification from the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC) said thermal power plants outside a 10km radius of cities with a population of 1 million people or more will be excluded from the requirement to install the system. Flue gas is a residue from thermal power plants, emits sulphur dioxide (SO2), which can mix in the atmosphere and create secondary particulate matter, an air pollutant.

While plants in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other cities with at least 1 mill...