05 May 2025
This update highlights recent developments in Indian environmental law from April 2025, including judgments, legislative measures and regulatory actions.
Partner: Rajat Jariwal, Senior Associates: Prerna Singh and Shatakshi Tripathi
The month of April 2025 witnessed significant developments in Indian environmental law, marked by proactive judicial interventions from the Supreme Court, which halted tree felling in Hyderabad’s Kancha Gachibowli forest and directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to investigate forest and wildlife violations in Tamil Nadu’s Agasthyamalai landscape, alongside the Madras High Court’s ban on various plastic items in the Western Ghats. On the legislative front, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued new guidelines for Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities. The Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025 were notified with a focus on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), while the draft Greenhouse Gases Emission Intensity Target Rules, 2025 were released to operationalise the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023 (CCTS) by proposing emission reduction targets for energy-intensive industries. These developments collectively underscore a strong emphasis on environmental protection, stringent action against ecological damage, and the streamlining of waste management regulations across various sectors in India.
These key developments are discussed in detail below.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu action to address the issue of tree felling in Telangana’s Kancha Gachibowli forest area, near the Hyderabad Central University campus.1 Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Court ordered an immediate halt to all tree-felling activities in the region. The Court also directed the Registrar of the Telangana High Court to inspect the site and submit a report on the matter without delay.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered a complete cessation of all developmental activities in the area until further orders. The order explicitly states that the state government should also not undertake any activity in the affected land other than protecting existing trees.2
The Court emphasised that its primary concern is protecting the environment and mitigating the damage already done to it. This proactive intervention highlights the judiciary’s commitment to environmental preservation and its willingness to take immediate action in cases of potential ecological harm.
Addressing concerns of encroachment and depleting forest cover in Tamil Nadu’s Agasthyamalai landscape, the Supreme Court has directed the CEC to conduct a thorough investigation. This order arose in a case involving a conflict between forest conservation and the rehabilitation rights of displaced tea estate workers in Tamil Nadu.
The CEC has been tasked with surveying the land and reporting violations of environmental legislations, including the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The CEC has also been directed to recommend measures for the restoration of (a) reserved forests, (b) tiger habitats, (c) elephant corridors and (d) other wildlife reserves (sanctuaries) in and around the Agasthyamalai landscape, using the latest technological support.
The Madras High Court has banned the manufacture, storage, supply, transport, sale, and distribution of 28 items of plastic throughout the Western Ghats, sanctuaries, and tiger reserves, starting from the Nilgiris up to the Agathiyar Biosphere in Kanyakumari District, including the Kodaikanal hill areas.
While ordering the prohibition on transport of plastic items in the area, the Court called upon the state government to issue requisite notifications to this effect and mandate that no vehicles should be used for transport or distribution of banned items along the Western Ghats and sanctuaries. The Court also directed the district authorities to develop schemes for establishing a circular economy.
The CPCB published the Guidelines for Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities (CBWTDF) on 12 April 2025.3 These guidelines will apply to all upcoming or new CBWTDFs. They will apply to existing CBWTDFs only in cases of expansion, enhancement or modernisation of existing treatment equipment. The guidelines comprehensively deal with the establishment and operation of CBWTDFs, including the criteria for developing a new CBWTDF, and location, equipment and inspection requirements.
The Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025 were notified on 4 April 2025, superseding the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, and will come into effect on 1 April 2026. The new rules seek to address the growing menace of construction and demolition waste in India, tighten regulations, and promote sustainable practices in the handling of such waste.
The new rules will apply to all activities related to construction, demolition, remodelling, renovation, and repair of structures, while exempting certain categories of waste, such as those emanating from defence projects, natural disasters, or acts of war, and those covered under the Atomic Energy Act and other sector-specific rules.
Importantly, the new rules make producers responsible for the environmentally sound disposal and management of construction and demolition waste and introduce EPR targets. To give effect to the EPR regime for construction and demolition waste, an online portal will be established for the registration and monitoring of producers, intermediate waste storage facilities, recyclers, and collection points.
The Draft Greenhouse Gases Emission Intensity Target Rules, 2025 (GEI Rules) were released on 16 April 2025.4 They propose to introduce targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by obligated entities in energy-intensive sectors and industries. The draft rules seek to establish a compliance mechanism for the CCTS by setting baseline emissions for 2023-24 and defining gradual reduction targets for the years 2025-26 and 2026-27 as part of the mechanism to operationalise the CCTS.
[1] Order dated 03.04.2025 in Suo Motu Writ Petition (C) No. 03 of 2025 titled In Re: Kancha Gachibowli Forest, State of Telangana available at Order issued by Supreme Court on 03-Apr-2025 (PDF)
[2] Order dated 16.04.2025 in Suo Motu Writ Petition (C) No. 03 of 2025 titled In Re: Kancha Gachibowli Forest, State of Telangana available at Order issued by Supreme Court on 16-Apr-2025 (PDF)
[3] Guidelines for Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment
[4] Draft Greenhouse Gases Emission Intensity Target Rules, 2025
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