NGT refuses to quash green clearances for Adani's Kerala port project

The green panel also directed Adani Group to maintain fishing harbours on the port for the welfare of local fishermen

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday refused to invalidate environment and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances, previously granted to the Vizhinjam Seaport, being built by the Adani Group near the Kerala state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.
 

The judgment was delivered in response to applications filed by environmental activists Wilfred J and V Marydasan in February this year, seeking withdrawal of the January 3, 2014, green clearances given to Vizhinjam Seaport. 
 

The applicants had also sought for general directions to be issued by the NGT for preservation of coastal areas across the country, from damages caused due to infrastructure development.
 

The Bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and R S Rathore disposed the pleas by constituting an expert committee to ensure compliance of the conditions of the environment and CRZ clearances by developers of the seaport project.
 

First proposed in 1991 during the Congress-led government in Kerala, the project failed to take off for various reasons until the Congress-led United Democratic Front came into power again in 2011 and finally awarded the project to the Adani Group.
 

The group will be investing Rs 4,089 crore in Vizhinjam, with the state government spending another Rs 1,463 crore on works under the landlord model of port development.
 

The Adani Group has ensured that Adani Ports and special economic zone will take the utmost care and responsibility in protecting the environment at Vizhinjam, while the project is under execution and looks forward to working closely with the expert committee. 
 

“The committee will monitor the construction of the port and submit a report every six months during the project execution stage,” a media statement issued by the group said.