HC issues notices to Gujarat, Adani Power on PIL alleging damage

A PIL has been filed alleging that the company has damaged the environment in APSEZ in Kutch

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Once again the Adani Group has been accused of violating green norms and causing damage to environment. The Gujarat High Court on Thursday issued notice to Adani Power Ltd following a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging environmental damage by the company due to discharge of untreated water in sea from its Mundra-based 4,620 Mw power plant.

A division bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala hearing the PIL also issued notices to state government, Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the ministry of environment and forests, directing them to file their respective replies to the allegation made in the PIL by August 21, which is the next date for hearing of the case.

The PIL has been filed by one Mangal Gadhvi of Moti Bhadiya village in Mundra block, through his lawyer Mehul Sharad Shah. According to Gadhvi Adani Power was using sea water for its power plant. For this purpose it has constructed a raw canal without lining causing seepage of sea water into the ground leading to salinity ingress in nearby villages.

He has further alleged that because the Adani Power was releasing the same water without treatment into the sea after using there was irreparable damage to marine life in the sea. The petitioner has also annexed photographs of dead fishes and other aquatic creatures. With regard to salinity ingress Gadhvi has annexed along with the PIL, photographs of trees and plants in the village that have been affected by the salinity in ground water.

The petitioner urged the court to direct Adani Power to construct a canal with concrete lining which does not allow seepage of sea water into ground. He has also sought direction for the company to treat the water discharged back into the sea through the outfall channel of the power plant in Mundra.

In June this year a group of people from Jarpara and Siracha village in Mundra block had filed PIL against Adani Power over similar issues. The outcome of the PIL is still pending in the Gujarat High Court.