The Supreme Court today sought replies from the Centre and Gujarat government on a petition seeking to scrap Rs 7,400 crore multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Mundra in Gujarat, being developed by the Adani Group.
A group of fishermen from the region has challenged the order of the Gujarat High Court, which refused to entertain their plea that the project was not environmentally feasible and that the developers were filling up the creeks.
After a brief hearing, a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam issued notices to the two governments, apart from Gujarat Maritime Board, Mundra Ports and others on the contention that the project would affect their livelihood as well as flora and fauna in the region.
Senior Advocate Soli J Sorabjee, appearing for the fishermen, said an independent inquiry should be conducted in the issue before giving the project go-ahead.
However, Senior Advocate Rohington Nariman, appearing for the opposite side said that the project was in accordance with the law and on five occasions, similar plea was refused by the High Court.
On behalf of the Mundra Ports, he gave assurance that the creeks were not being filled as alleged by the fishermen.
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Mundra SEZ, established under the SEZ Act of 2005, is proposed to come up in about 6,000 acres of land with a total investment of Rs 7,400 crore.
The government of India and the Gujarat government had accorded approval to the Adani Group to develop, operate and maintain an SEZ at Mundra in Gujarat on February 12, 2004.
The petitioners pleaded that the project was cleared without assessing the impact of the scheme on the livelihood of thousands of fishermen living in the area.