The Centre has barred the UP-based Mantec Consultants for one year for preparing environment impact assessment (EIA) and management plan reports for 10 projects of the state-owned Kandla Port Trust without any permission.
The EIA study and the environment management plan (EMP) for any project seeking environment clearance (EC) is prepared only after the ministry issues terms of reference (ToR).
The ministry had issued ToR to the Kandla Port Trust for preparation of EIA/EMP reports only for three projects. But the consultant has submitted reports for a total of 13 projects.
"The matter has been examined in detail in the ministry ... It has been decided to debar Mantec Consultants Pvt Ltd from carrying out any preparation of EIA/EMP report and appearing before the EIA/SEAC/SCZMA across the country for one year," the ministry said in an order issued on February 9.
It was the duty and responsibility of the consultant to advise the project proponent to obtain requisite modification in the ToR at a suitable time. "The consultant instead of advising so to the proponent went ahead and prepared the EIA/EMP for 13 activities for which no ToR has been granted."
"The final EIA/EMP report, including the State Coastal Zone Management Authority (SCZMA) recommendations, was submitted to the ministry on August 28, 2015. This has led to wastage of considerable time and resources at various levels," it added.
