The National Green Tribunal has
directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to revise guidelines for setting up of thermal power projects by clearly demarcating the areas not conducive for projects.

The MoEF was asked to submit the revised guidelines, which should clearly indicate 'Go' as the area for a project and 'No go' as the place where a project cannot be undertaken, within three months.The order came along with the Tribunal's decision that environment clearance to a private construction company for first phase of proposed 2,640 MW coal-based thermal power plant in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district, shall remain
suspended and the MoEF shall revisit the nod.The Rs 14,000-crore thermal power project was caught in controversy after protests by locals that led to
death of three persons in police firing in July, 2010. A bench of Tribunal headed by its Acting Chairperson A S Naidu said the guidelines relating to TPPs followed by MoEF were formulated “way back” in 1987 and should be updated.