Chennai, Aug 9 (IANS): The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to take strong action against the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) for operating a unit without obtaining prior environmental clearance that was mandatory.

The bench directed the Pollution Control Board to take necessary action against GAIL for the violation, including the assessment of environmental compensation for the already conducted violations.

The TNPCB has already issued a show cause notice to GAIL for operating a unit in the Meramathur village in Myladuthurai without its consent.

The state pollution control board has also found that GAIL has not obtained clearance for laying a pipeline for 0.255 km in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) area.

The NGT bench has also directed GAIL not to operate and lay the pipeline from Madanam in Sirkazhi to the Memathur terminal without obtaining the necessary CRZ clearance as also other mandatory permissions envisaged in the environmental law.

The green bench directed the Tamil Nadu Coastal Management Authority to take appropriate action against GAIL for installing pipelines in violation of the CRZ notification, 2011 and 2019.