Environmental Clearances granted to coal-based power plants are a useful indicator to study power generation trends in India. This is in view of the fact that grant of prior Environmental Clearance is prerequisite for commissioning construction activities. The coal-fired thermal power plants are appraised under activity 1(d) of the EIA Notification (2006). Environmental Clearance is the foremost requirement for establishment of new as well as expansion of existing coal power projects. This is followed by several other clearances and permissions such as consent under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, among others. Projects that involve forest land are also mandated to obtain Forest Clearances under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.