Gujarat Pipavav gets MoEF nod for expansion

Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd. (GPPL) has finally received an approval from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) for its expansion plan.

While the company had received an approval in June 2012, the same had been challenged by an NGO in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Tribunal in its August 22, 2013 order had kept the company's environment approval in abeyance for a period of six months.

Subsequently, MoEF and EAC had initiated a fresh appraisal of the expansion plan.

However, GPPL on Friday stated that the company has received approval from MoEF for its expansion plan.

It needs to be mentioned here that the NGOs which had challenged the approval were Gau Raxa Hitraxak and Gauchar Paryavaran Bachav Trust representing villagers near the port.

GPPL's expansion plan was to be executed for an estimated cost of Rs 1,097 crore. 

The company has planned to finance the project cost through a mix of debt, equity and internal accruals.