Guwahati: The The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has largely ruled in favour of industrial project proponents in disputes concerning environmental and forest clearances over the past five years, according to an investigation by The Indian Express.
The report, which analysed over 100,000 NGT orders issued between 2020 and 2025, found that in four out of five cases involving contested environmental or forest clearances, the Tribunal either upheld approvals granted by the government or provided relief to developers whose clearances had been denied.
Of 329 appeals filed by citizens and environmental groups challenging the grant of environmental or forest clearances (EC/FCs), only 65 cases — or 20% resulted in relief. In the remaining 264 cases, the Tribunal declined to interfere with the approvals. In contrast, of 159 appeals filed by project proponents against the rejection or cancellation of clearances, 126 — nearly 80% secured relief, while only 33 were dismissed.
The findings mark a shift from the 2016–2019 period, when relief granted to both sides ranged between 18% and 31%, reflecting a comparatively balanced trend.
Among the projects where appeals against granted clearances were dismissed were those linked to Adani Petronet (Dahej) Port, Vedanta, Jindal Power, Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd, Honnavar Port Pvt Ltd, Oil India, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), NBCC, the Alang shipyard cluster, UltraTech Cement, and Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL). Large mining blocks such as Singrauli, Dipka and Parsa East-Kanta Basan, as well as projects like the Khurja super thermal power plant and the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydel project, were also cited.
The 65 cases in which relief was granted included appeals concerning mining near the Taj Mahal, a housing project by Godrej Properties in Bengaluru, a project of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) in Karnataka, marble mining near Rajasthan’s Bandh-Baretha sanctuary, and a greenfield captive jetty near Odisha’s Paradip Port.
Established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, the NGT was mandated to ensure the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, forest conservation and natural resource management. It functions through benches in Delhi, Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai, with a substantial proportion of matters relating to air and water pollution and coastal regulation norms.
The Tribunal’s recent approach has drawn scrutiny. Its decision not to interfere with the environmental clearance granted in 2022 for large infrastructure projects on Great Nicobar Island — including an international transshipment terminal, township, power plant and greenfield airport with an estimated cost of over Rs 80,000 crore, had attracted criticism from environmental groups.
On February 26, speaking at the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute in Rajasthan’s Nimli, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Deepak Gupta, observed that the judiciary appeared to be “stepping back” when it comes to environmental protection.
He said judges must be mindful of ecological concerns, adding that while development is necessary, it must conform to the principles of sustainable development.