CAG Rebukes NLC India For Operating Mine Without Valid Environmental Clearance

18 Feb 2026 CW Team

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has criticised Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLC India) after an audit found that a lignite mine was being operated without a valid environmental clearance.

The audit report identified shortcomings in the process followed by the company and raised concerns about adherence to statutory requirements. It noted that operations had continued despite the absence of up to date approvals from the competent authority.

The report set out the regulatory framework governing environmental clearances and emphasised the requirement for companies to secure and renew approvals before commencing or continuing mining activities. The CAG recommended remedial action including suspension of unauthorised operations, formal regularisation of permissions and strengthening of internal compliance systems.

NLC India is a state owned mining and power generation company with operations concentrated in lignite extraction and related power projects. The audit highlighted the environmental risks associated with mining activities, including potential impacts on land and water resources, and the need for robust mitigation measures. The report suggested that the company should prepare a detailed compliance plan and that auditors should examine financial liabilities arising from regulatory breaches.

The audit said regulatory authorities needed to ensure prompt follow up and transparent reporting of remedial measures to uphold public interest and environmental safeguards. It recommended that the company publish a timeline for obtaining required approvals and detail steps taken to mitigate impacts. NLC India was expected to respond to the audit recommendations with an action plan and documentation of corrective measures. Continued oversight by independent regulators and auditors was urged to restore compliance and maintain accountability.

Infrastructure Urban

20 Mar 2026

Lemon Tree Hotels Signs Resort In Lonavala Maharashtra

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited (LTHL) has signed a licence agreement for Lemon Tree Resort in Lonavala, Maharashtra, with the asset to be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of LTHL. The resort will offer 50 well appointed rooms and will include a restaurant, banquet, meeting room, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. The company described the addition as part of its strategy to expand branded resort offerings in key getaway destinations. Lonavala, located in the Sahyadri hills, is a popular leisure destination in western India known for scenic landscapes and a ..

Kalai Chettinad Art And Architecture Festival At The Lotus Palace

The Lotus Palace Chettinad will host Kalai, the Chettinad Art and Architecture Festival, a four-day, three-night immersive celebration of the artistic legacy of Chettinad from three to six April 2026. The event has been organised by Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) and will take place across restored heritage properties in Chettinad. It will be designed to offer guests a layered experience of place, structure and story that connects art, architecture and living traditions. The festival aims to present a confluence of global influences and local aesthetics. Kalai has been curated i..

SJVN Reaches One bn Units At 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Project

SJVN Limited (SJVN) has reached a milestone with its 1,000 megawatt (MW) Bikaner Solar Power Project by generating one bn units of electricity on 20 March 2026. The achievement underscores the company's role in supplying clean and sustainable energy to the national grid. The generation milestone was recorded within months of the project commencing operations and highlights rapid performance from the new facility. The Bikaner project, located in Bikaner district of Rajasthan, has been developed and implemented by SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) under the Central Public Sector Undertaking Schem..