The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted a conditional stay on the ₹8.97 crore (approximately $1.1 million USD) environmental compensation imposed on the Panipat Thermal Power Plant in Haryana, India. This decision allows the plant six weeks to provide detailed responses regarding its compliance with the Environment (Utilization of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023. The fine was levied by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) due to the plant's failure to co-fire a minimum of 5% biomass pellets made from crop residue along with coal, which is a mandatory requirement. This ruling follows a similar stay on a ₹33 crore fine imposed on the Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Plant. The appellant argued that compliance was hindered by a shortage of torrefied biomass pellets, a claim that was contested by CAQM, which stated that the availability of biomass pellets was adequate. The NGT noted the importance of addressing pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and emphasized that the conditional stay serves the interest of justice.