Impact of Power Plant on Environment: A Legal Challenge | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

The advent of industrialization in the second half of 18th century was a watershed moment in the history of humankind. It was the moment when the humankind denuded itself from the shackles of the past and strived to pave a way for a beautiful future. A future, when realized, was both blessed with the charm of technological advancements but at the same time was plagued by gruesome inequality and a terrible environment to live in. Since the end of the second world war, the modern nation-states have participated in numerous conventions to address this deteriorating problem of environmental degradation. The problem of environmental degradation has been attributed to the technological advancements which humankind has achieved with the help of industrialization which was consequently done with utter disregard to the environment by not focusing on the sustainable mode of development. Most of the environmental degradation was a direct result of energy generation through burning of fossil fuels. Life without energy sector is unthinkable in 21st century. Energy sector is considered as one of the chief contributors in the environmental degradation. It impacts environment at multiple stages of its development and use including in construction, electricity generation, dissemination and decommissioning and disposal. The recently held 26the Climate Change Conference of the United Nations (COP26) reiterated the urgent need and called upon the participating nations to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and attain the net zero carbon emissions with alacrity. Against this backdrop, this article is an attempt to examine the significant impact of power plants on the environment and legal issues which are incidental to it with a special reference to India.