JUDGMENT

S.RANGANATHAN, J.

(1) THE two petitioners, who are "Environment Protection Groups" objected to the clearance, by the State of Maharashtra and the Union of India, of a proposal of the Bombay Suburban Electricity Supply Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as "BSES") for the construction of a thermal power plant over an area of 800 hectares or thereabouts in Dahanu, Maharashtra. They filed writ petitions in the Bombay High court challenging the decision of the central government to that effect dated 29/03/1989. After some hearing the Bombay High court passed an order dated 30/03/1990 adjourning the hearing to enable the government of India to consider the representations made by the two petitioners. Government of India did this and reaffirmed its decision to clear the project. A detailed affidavit was filed on behalf of the Union on 29/06/1990. To this was enclosed a memorandum dealing in seriatim with the various objections raised by the petitioners and setting out the governments findings thereon. After considering the same and hearing the counsel at length, the High court, by a detailed order, dismissed the writ petitions by its order dated 12/12/