Beyond Regulatory Compliance: The Question of Environmental Sustainability in Industrial Pollution Regulation

This research proposal investigates the distinction between regulatory success and environmental sustainability in the context of industrial pollution regulation, with particular attention to thermal power generation. The research originated from vocational training visits undertaken in January 2026 at two West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) facilities: Bandel Thermal Power Station and Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station. Observations of the surrounding environments, particularly the persistently dusty conditions around Bandel and concerns regarding respiratory problems among local residents, prompted questions about the relationship between industrial activity, environmental regulation, and the conditions experienced by surrounding communities. The central question is whether regulatory compliance necessarily translates into long-term environmental sustainability. Even when industrial facilities satisfy all prescribed emission and discharge standards, undergo rigorous inspections, and successfully reduce pollution, their continued operation may still contribute residual emissions and cumulative environmental degradation over extended periods. The proposal therefore examines whether existing environmental regulatory frameworks adequately distinguish between controlling pollution within legally permissible limits and maintaining environmentally sustainable conditions. The proposed investigation adopts an exploratory and interdisciplinary approach, incorporating regulatory document analysis, environmental monitoring data assessment, cumulative impact assessment, and, subject to feasibility and appropriate permissions, community-level environmental assessment. Using Bandel and Bakreshwar as initial case-study contexts, the research aims to explore how environmental regulatory success should be evaluated beyond statutory compliance and reductions in measured emissions. Central research question: Can regulatory success coexist with environmental unsustainability? This document presents an independent research proposal and an initial framework for investigating the relationship between environmental compliance, cumulative pollution, and long-term environmental sustainability.