NGT stays construction of Ennore SEZ thermal power plant for four weeks

The Southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has restrained the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation (formerly Tangedco) from carrying out any construction activity related to the 2x660 MW Ennore SEZ Thermal Power Plant at Vayalur village in Tiruvallur district for four weeks, as the project is proceeding without a valid Environmental Clearance (EC).

The interim order was passed by a bench comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Prashant Gargava in a petition filed by Selvaraj Duraiswamy, who sought directions to the project proponent to obtain fresh clearances under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification before proceeding with the project.

The applicant contended that the CRZ clearance granted to the project in January 2014 had expired and that construction was continuing without a valid clearance. He also argued that the EC had expired on December 31, 2025.

During the hearing, counsel for the project proponent produced an Office Memorandum issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 30, 2025, which provides that the period during which a project could not be implemented because of court proceedings can be excluded while calculating the validity of an EC.

The Tribunal noted that although the Office Memorandum could benefit the project proponent, it had not approached the competent authority to seek an extension of the EC after its expiry. Despite this, construction activity had continued, the bench observed.

Holding that construction should not proceed in the absence of a valid EC, the Tribunal restrained the project proponent from continuing any construction related to the thermal power plant for four weeks. However, the bench clarified that the project proponent is at liberty to approach the competent authority to seek an extension of the EC. If such an extension is granted, it may resume construction activities.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 10.

The petition also raises issues relating to the validity of the project’s CRZ and alleges environmental damage to the Ennore backwaters, including the destruction of a fishing area during the construction of the project’s conveyance system. Those issues remain to be adjudicated by the Tribunal.