India’s former environment minister Jairam Ramesh has warned that authorities are ignoring Adani’s environmental record.

Mr Ramesh says he is “absolutely appalled” by the Australian Government's approval of the Adani’s massive Carmichael coal mine in North Queensland.

He said the Federal Government and Queensland Government have both failed to do due diligence on the company’s conduct in India before granting approvals and licenses.

“Adani Group's track record on environmental management within the country [India] leaves a lot to be desired,” Mr Ramesh told reporters.

“And if it leaves a lot to be desired domestically, there's no reason for me to believe that Adani would be a responsible environmental player globally.”

Mr Ramesh said the Australian Government should not provide concessional loans and other taxpayer support to facilitate the project.

“You're giving a tax break to a project that is actually going to have adverse environmental consequences, which will have multiplying effects on weather patterns in the region, across the world. I find it bizarre,” he said.

“I'm absolutely appalled by what is happening, because the impact [of climate change] on the Great Barrier Reef is now documented.

“The Great Barrier Reef happens to be in Australia, but it's a common heritage of mankind, it belongs to the world.

“I'm very, very surprised that the Australian Government, for whatever reason, has seen it fit to all along handhold Mr Adani — he is not one of the shining stars of environmental stewardship.”

Mr Ramesh said the Adani Group was surrounded by allegations of tax evasion and money laundering in India.

Adani Group's ports business has been hit with several adverse findings for environmental misconduct and disregard for the law.

The comments come alongside new reports about Adani’s tax haven ties in the British Virgin Islands.