The thermal power generation capacity in India is set to expand massively. Data from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) analysed by the Prayas Energy Group shows that the ministry has accorded environmental clearances to a large
number of coal and gas-based power plants whose capacity totals 192,913 MW. Another 508,907 MW are at various stages in the environmental clearance cycle, that is, they are either Awaiting Environmental Clearance, or have Terms of Reference (TOR) Granted, or are Awaiting TOR. It is extremely rare for a thermal power plant (TPP) to be denied environmental clearance.