APSEZ says no impact of NGT order on operations at Hazira

Adani Ports and SEZ today said the order by the National green Tribunal (NGT) on carrying out work at their Hazira-based port without environment clearance has not impacted its operations in the area.
"There is no stay on construction/operation currently and we have been provided four weeks to comply with the directions of the order, including depositing of Rs 25 crore with the Collector, Surat," APSEZ said in a regulatory filing.
In a judgement issued on January 8, Pune-based Western zone bench of the NGT had slapped a penalty of Rs 25 crore on Adani-Hazira Port Pvt Ltd (AHPPL) and its associate Hajira Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for carrying out work without acquiring environment clearance.

The Bench had also ruled that the environment clearance (EC), granted by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), in 2013 for further development of the port at Hazira, was illegal and set it aside.
APSEZ said: "We believe there are certain factual errors, which we are contesting. We have complied with majority of requirements and certain portions are not directly applicable to us. Once again to reaffirm, the operations at Hazira remain unimpacted and the business is as routine."
The order was issued in response to a plea filed by four local fishermen of Hazira in 2013, who challenged the EC granted by MoEF for further development of port activities at Hajira in the same year.

Shares of APSEZ today rose by 0.60 per cent to settle at Rs 219.45 apiece at the BSE.