HC dismisses PIL over alleged breach of environment by Adani

The Gujarat High Court today dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking action against two Adani group companies for allegedly violating environmental norms in two villages in Kutch district.
A Gujarat High Court division bench of acting Chief Justice V M Sahai and Justice R P Dholaria dimissed the PIL filed by residents of Navinal and Zarpara villages through an organisation called Kheti Vikas Seva Trust.
The High Court told the petitioner to approach the green tribunal in Pune since the issue is about alleged environmental irregularities by Adani Power Ltd (APL) as well as Adani Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZL) in Mundra taluka of Kutch district.

The PIL, filed in June this year, alleged non-compliance of conditions set by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), while granting environmental clearance to the project in 2009 and 2010.
"Adani Port Ltd has constructed the water outfall channel from the power plant in the Kotdi Creek area violating conditions set by the union government," the PIL alleged, adding the MoEF had asked the company (Adani) not to do construction in the Creek area.
"Adani Power Ltd (APL) has violated these conditions by constructing its outfall channel in the creek area in Mundra at Kutch district, which had restricted movement of fishermen from Zarpara and Navinal villages and affected their livelihood," the petition said, adding that due to the outfall channel, free access to the sea has been restricted.

The petitioner had asked the Gujarat High Court to take action action against Adani and other companies as well as revoke their conditional environmental clearance.
The petitioner had also sought a High Court direction to Adani to stop discharge of its waste water to the outfall channel without complying with conditions stipulated in the environmental clearance issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).