In Brief
IL&FS Tamil Nadu Power Company operates a 2×600 MW thermal power plant in Tamil Nadu under an Environmental Clearance that was challenged by fishermen associations. The NGT upheld the clearance but ordered a cumulative impact assessment study. The Ministry subsequently issued a corrigendum with additional conditions (including FGD system installation). The petitioners challenged the corrigendum; the NGT quashed it. The Supreme Court held that appeals against a corrigendum are maintainable only on additional conditions if the original EC is not challenged and has been NGT-confirmed. Since closing operational plants supplying power to millions would harm the energy-deficit state, the Court allowed the company to continue operations subject to compliance with all original and additional conditions, leaving the broader cumulative assessment question open for future cases.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.