Adani's Mundra port fined for breach of environment norms

Company allegedly damaged mangroves, creeks while setting up port project at Kutch under APSEZ

The ministry of environment and forests has slammed a Rs 200-crore penalty on the Gautam Adani-led Adani Group for violating environment laws at the group’s Mundra port project in Kutch district. The company had allegedly damaged mangroves and creeks while setting up the port project under Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone.

The ministry order followed a report by a five-member committee led by Sunita Narain, director-general of Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. The ministry has accepted the committee’s report.

The ministry had constituted the expert panel locals and activists alleged green norms had been violated while port and power project were being developed. In its report, the committee found widespread destruction of mangroves across about 75 hectares of conservation zone. The Adani Group was also blamed for not taking precautions to guard against the blocking of creeks due to construction.