Surat

National Green Tribunal(NGT) bench comprising of Justice V.R. Kingaonkar (Judicial Member) and DR. Ajay A Deshpande (Expert Member) has ordered Adani-Hazira Port and Hazira Infrastructures PVT Ltd to deposit an amount of Rs. 25 Crore (Twenty-Five Crore) with the Collector, Surat, within four weeks, which shall be kept in Escrow Account till further directions for utilization thereof, may be towards compensation and restoration to pay costs of Rs. 2 Lakh (Rs. Two Lakhs) each, to the Appellants, as litigation costs and bear their own costs among other things. The tribunal has also instructed the collector, to demolish the construction over 25 Ha and restore the land In case on non-compliance.

Following a complaint filed by Hazira Machchimaar Samiti before NGT it was revealed that the document of environment clearance granted to Hazira port in year 2013 was not valid. Construction work was started by company without approval. As per a pact signed with the Gujarat Maritime Board in April – 2002, the company had to plant mangrove in 550 hectare land but plantation was not done.

-With inputs from agency