Indians pay high price for power

Clean-up of coal-fired plant part of PM Modi's $25b revamp of nation's aging utilities

Barely 25 kilometers from central Delhi, a 40-year-old coal-fired power plant run by NTPC Ltd stands testament to the bargain struck by India's capital city: The world's dirtiest air for electricity.

The state-owned utility is now seeking to cut emissions across its facilities in India, starting with its oldest - the one in Delhi. NTPC plans to spend 12 billion rupees ($189 million) annually on technology upgrades, a company official said, asking not to identified as the person isn't authorized to speak on the subject.