A two-judge bench of the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday ordered a stay on all construction activities in the creek area of the Rs 7,400-crore Adani multi-product Special Economic Zone in Mundra taluka of Kutch district, with immediate effect.
The next hearing in the case is on August 7. The order was passed by the bench of acting Chief Justice M S Shah and Justice D H Waghela on a Public Interest Litigation filed by the fishermen of Kutch.
Representing the fishermen, Salim Jat had contended that the Adani SEZ involved filling up of 34 creeks, which would block the entry of fishing boats from the 21 adjoining villages into the sea, thus affecting the livelihood of over 5,000 fishermen.
The total area of the creek, according to the petition, is 32 kms between Tunda village and Kokrasar village, in Mundra taluka. According to the petition, the construction activity in the creek area will also cause immense harm to the area's flora and fauna and eliminate the mangrove cover.
Previously, the fishermen had approached the Supreme Court and demanded that the project be scrapped. Though, on July 1, the apex court ordered a stay on the construction activity, a three-judge bench on July 10 vacated the stay on a petition by the Adanis. The Adanis had argued that they had already invested Rs 3,500 crore in the project and had plans to make a further investment of Rs 4,000 crore.
While lifting the stay, the apex court had asked the fishermen to approach the high court and seek redressal of their grievances. It also directed the company not to fill up the creeks and carry out any construction activity in this area till the fishermen filed their petition in the high court.
Courtesy : www.expressindia.com
The next hearing in the case is on August 7. The order was passed by the bench of acting Chief Justice M S Shah and Justice D H Waghela on a Public Interest Litigation filed by the fishermen of Kutch.
Representing the fishermen, Salim Jat had contended that the Adani SEZ involved filling up of 34 creeks, which would block the entry of fishing boats from the 21 adjoining villages into the sea, thus affecting the livelihood of over 5,000 fishermen.
The total area of the creek, according to the petition, is 32 kms between Tunda village and Kokrasar village, in Mundra taluka. According to the petition, the construction activity in the creek area will also cause immense harm to the area's flora and fauna and eliminate the mangrove cover.
Previously, the fishermen had approached the Supreme Court and demanded that the project be scrapped. Though, on July 1, the apex court ordered a stay on the construction activity, a three-judge bench on July 10 vacated the stay on a petition by the Adanis. The Adanis had argued that they had already invested Rs 3,500 crore in the project and had plans to make a further investment of Rs 4,000 crore.
While lifting the stay, the apex court had asked the fishermen to approach the high court and seek redressal of their grievances. It also directed the company not to fill up the creeks and carry out any construction activity in this area till the fishermen filed their petition in the high court.
Courtesy : www.expressindia.com