The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) and directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to take action against it for operating the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) without renewing its Consent to Operate (CTO).
The tribunal also directed the Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Forest and Climate Change to conduct a study regarding the unutilised Ennore wetland and protect the area under the Government Wetland Mission. It further directed that a plan be developed for the restoration of the ‘fragile ecosystem of Ennore creek and its wetland complex.’
“It is seen from the reports [submitted to the NGT] that the NCTPS units are functioning without renewing their CTO, which is impermissible in law and is a continuing violation, for which TNPCB is expected to take stringent action against them, including the imposition of further compensation till the violation is rectified,” the Bench said.
