Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding violation of EC in running the Mundra Ultra Mega Thermal Power Project, Kutch district, Gujarat, 10/02/2021
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Conservation Action Trust & Others Vs Union of India & Others dated 10/01/2021.
The issue raised in the application related to compliance of Environmental Clearance (EC) conditions in running the 4000 MW Mundra Ultra Mega Thermal Power Project at village Tunda, near Mundra, District Kutchh, Gujarat by M/s Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd (CGPL).
The nine-member committee appointed by the NGT in its report of January 6, 2021 stated that as per reports of NIO and satellite images available for the past, there were no mangroves previously in the area used for construction of outfall channel of CGPL. The sides of the intake channel were compacted for the movement using the dredged soil. Separate permission for such activity was not required as it is considered as part of construction activity of the intake channel for which all necessary clearances and permissions were taken.
The committee has collected information about the salt pan owners, it was informed that no drastic change in the production of salt was observed during five years. The committee visited the fishery area near outfall of CGPL, ash pond of CGPL, intake channel, discharge point of Adani Power Ltd (APL) - during visit, there was no evidence of dust deposition on fishes, vegetation. The GPCB has carried out ambient air quality monitoring and founds the analysis results within national ambient air quality standards, the Joint Committee report informed the NGT.
The NGT disposed of the case, as the court did "not find any ground to question the credibility of the report based on site visit and thorough consideration."