Strongly indicting Adani Group, an Environment Ministry panel on Thursday said that there is incontrovertible evidence the entity has violated environmental norms while implementing its port and SEZ project in Gujarat’s Mundra and has suggested imposition of penalty of at least Rs200 crore.
The committee has asked the Government to create an environment restoration fund, which should be one per cent of the project cost (including the cost of the thermal power plant) or Rs 200 crore, whichever is higher.
“The fund should be used for remediation of environmental damage in Mundra and for strengthening the regulatory and monitoring systems,” it said.
The five-member committee, headed by environmentalist Sunita Narain, noted that due to non-compliance of environmental clearance rules by the company, there has been widespread destruction of mangroves and deterioration and loss of creeks near the proposed North Port.
“Seventy-five hectares of mangroves have been lost in Bocha Island, which was declared as a conservation zone. The company has not taken precautions to guard against blocking of creeks because of construction activities; satellite imagery shows signs of deterioration and loss of creeks near the proposed North Port,” stated the panel report, which was officially presented to Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan earlier in the day.
Reacting to the development, an Adani Group spokesperson said, “the committee appointed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has submitted their report to MoEF today. As a responsible corporate, we have been complying with the applicable rules and regulations. We will continue to work closely with the Government for preservation of environment and upliftment of the communities in which we operate.”