The National Green Tribunal today disallowed the challenge to the environmental clearance granted to the Vizhinjam port project..The decision was rendered by the principal Bench of NGT comprising Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, judicial members MS Nambiar and Raghuvendra S Rathore, and expert member Bikram Singh Sajwan..The tribunal has also directed the constitution of an expert committee comprising scientists and other experts to monitor shoreline changes and other issues..It has also issued a slew of directions to the project proponents regarding myriad issues affecting the project area including waste disposal, sewage treatment etc..The Vizhinjam port, which is being developed by Adani Vizhinjam Port Limited, had come under the scanner after challenges against the environmental clearances given to the project..Also under challenge was a Coastal Regulations Zone notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which had exempted the concerned coastal region from its purview..The Kerala government had approached the Supreme Court when the principal Bench of NGT had suo moto transferred a case challenging the environmental clearance which was pending before the southern Bench to itself..The question of whether the NGT can decide the validity of a notification was also raised before the Supreme Court. The apex court had ultimately held that the matter should be first decided by NGT, whereupon the NGT had proceeded to hear out the case..Hemant Sahai and Sakya Singh Chaudhuri, Partners at HSA Advocates appeared for Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited.
The National Green Tribunal today disallowed the challenge to the environmental clearance granted to the Vizhinjam port project..The decision was rendered by the principal Bench of NGT comprising Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, judicial members MS Nambiar and Raghuvendra S Rathore, and expert member Bikram Singh Sajwan..The tribunal has also directed the constitution of an expert committee comprising scientists and other experts to monitor shoreline changes and other issues..It has also issued a slew of directions to the project proponents regarding myriad issues affecting the project area including waste disposal, sewage treatment etc..The Vizhinjam port, which is being developed by Adani Vizhinjam Port Limited, had come under the scanner after challenges against the environmental clearances given to the project..Also under challenge was a Coastal Regulations Zone notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which had exempted the concerned coastal region from its purview..The Kerala government had approached the Supreme Court when the principal Bench of NGT had suo moto transferred a case challenging the environmental clearance which was pending before the southern Bench to itself..The question of whether the NGT can decide the validity of a notification was also raised before the Supreme Court. The apex court had ultimately held that the matter should be first decided by NGT, whereupon the NGT had proceeded to hear out the case..Hemant Sahai and Sakya Singh Chaudhuri, Partners at HSA Advocates appeared for Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited.
