NGT slaps Rs 25 cr fine on Adani-Hazira Port, cancels green clearance

The National Green Tribunal has slapped a penalty of Rs 25 crore on Adani-Hazira Port Pvt Ltd (AHPPL) and its associate Hajira Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for carrying out work at their Hazira-based port near Surat without acquiring environment clearance.

The Pune-based Western Zone bench of NGT also ruled that the environment clearance (EC), granted by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), in 2013 for further development of the port at Hazira, is illegal and set it aside.

The judgment was passed on January 8 by NGT bench comprising justice V R Kingaonkar and Dr Ajay Deshpande, who is an expert member.

"The appeal is allowed and impugned EC is set aside. AHPPL and HIPL shall be made liable to pay amount of Rs 25 crore, as an amount of penalty for restoration as well as shall be restrained from closing/narrowing down mouth of the creek or narrowing down access of the boats of traditional fishermen," the order stated.