The CAG of India has highlighted significant delays, violations, and lapses in the enforcement of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011, in Tamil Nadu.
From 2015 to 2022, the TNSCZMA directly approved 114 out of 175 projects without recommending them to the union Ministry of Environment.
As many as 23 projects involving the effluent discharge were approved without the obtaining mandatory No-Objection Certificates from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
Around 90 unauthorised constructions were identified in the No Development Zone across Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Thoothukudi.
Also, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department not produced any records to CAG for the audit.
As per the HR&CE department, there was no jurisdiction for the scrutiny of the records pertaining to religious institutions.
The scope of the CAG audit was to be restricted to the funds released from the consolidated fund of the State.
The grants released by the government HR&CE department to the alone could be audited under Section 14 of the DPC Act.