What are the concerns raised by environmental groups about the Kodungaiyur waste-to-energy plant?

Environmental groups argue that the Kodungaiyur waste-to-energy plant is highly polluting and hazardous, and cannot be safely operated. They cite studies showing these plants have repeatedly caused severe environmental and health damage.

What is the ongoing campaign against the reclassification of waste-to-energy plants?

Civil society groups are conducting a postcard campaign against the reclassification of waste-to-energy plants to the less stringent "blue" category, as they believe this will harm health, increase pollution and climate impacts, and affect the jobs of waste workers.

Home / Environment / Activists Resist Exemption of Waste-to-Energy Plants from Environmental Clearance

Activists Resist Exemption of Waste-to-Energy Plants from Environmental Clearance

Q: How does the government's reclassification of waste-to-energy plants affect regulations?

The government has proposed reclassifying waste-to-energy plants as "Essential Environmental Services," exempting them from mandatory public hearings and environmental impact assessments. Environmental groups argue this falsely portrays them as benign facilities despite their generation of hazardous waste.

18 Nov

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Summary

Environmental groups criticize government's proposal to exempt waste-to-energy plants from public hearings and EIA
Claim waste-to-energy plants are highly polluting and hazardous, contradicting government's "essential services" label
Ongoing postcard campaign against reclassification of waste-to-energy plants as less stringent "blue" category

Activists Resist Exemption of Waste-to-Energy Plants from Environmental Clearance

As of November 18, 2025, environmental groups are strongly opposing the Indian government's proposal to exempt all waste-to-energy (WTE) and municipal solid-waste management facilities from mandatory public hearings and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had issued a draft notification on October 3, 2025, seeking to reclassify these projects as "Essential Environmental Services" that no longer require prior environmental clearance. The ministry argued that solid-waste management systems play a crucial role in protecting the environment and human health, and that exempting them from the EIA process would support faster implementation.