Sat Oct 04 23:25:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text followed by a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has defended its decision to levy a ₹54.45 lakh environmental compensation penalty on Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (CPCL) for exceeding emission standards between 2019 and 2020. CPCL appealed the decision, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) granted an interim stay on the condition that CPCL deposit 50% of the total environmental compensation levied across its divisions. The TNPCB rejected CPCL’s explanation for the exceedances, citing potential harm to public health and air quality, and noted the NGT has previously deemed existing emission protocols too lenient.

**News Article:**

**Chennai Pollution Board Defends Penalty Against CPCL for Emission Violations**

**CHENNAI, October 5, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has staunchly defended its decision to fine Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (CPCL) ₹54.45 lakh for exceeding permissible emission levels between April 2019 and December 2020. The penalty, based on data from CPCL’s Diesel Hydro De-Sulphurisation (DHDS) plant in Manali, was levied after a show-cause notice and personal hearing, as per regulations under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

CPCL, a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, challenged the penalty, leading the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to issue an interim stay in April 2025. However, the stay was conditional on CPCL depositing 50% of the total environmental compensation assessed across its various divisions, amounting to ₹3.11 crore, which the company has reportedly complied with.

The TNPCB dismissed CPCL’s explanation that instrument malfunctions and temporary plant disturbances caused the emission violations. The Board emphasized the potential danger to public health and air quality from exceeding emission limits. Furthermore, the TNPCB noted that the NGT previously criticized the Central Pollution Control Board’s emission protocols as being “very liberal” and mandated revisions.

The total environmental compensation assessed against CPCL’s Manali facilities stands at ₹6.23 crore, underscoring the severity of the pollution concerns raised by the TNPCB. The case highlights ongoing efforts to enforce stricter environmental regulations and hold companies accountable for emission violations in Tamil Nadu.

Read More