Pune: The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) western zone bench in Pune has dismissed a plea challenging the environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted for Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited’s expansion project in Amreli district.

In its November 26 order, the bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Sujit Kumar Bajpayee said it found “no sufficient ground” to interfere with the clearance and rejected the appeal at the admission stage after reviewing the records.

The tribunal referred to the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, noting that detailed studies on plant diversity, marine ecology and biodiversity including an Avian Diversity Impact Study, showed no significant adverse impact. The study even described the port area as a haven for bird diversity.

The appeal, filed by activist Chetan Kumar Navintray Vyas, argued that the July approval was invalid because it relied on a 2012 clearance that had expired, and that the expansion threatened marine mammals, Olive Ridley turtles, avian species and mangroves.

The NGT held that expiry of an earlier clearance does not invalidate a new one unless barred by law. It also rejected claims that the EIA was incomplete or that the public hearing was invalid, ruling that the sub-divisional magistrate was authorised to conduct it since the project falls entirely within Rajula taluka.

The tribunal concluded that none of the objections were legally sustainable and upheld the environmental and CRZ clearances for the port expansion. DeshGujarat