A project of Adani Petronet (Dahej) Port Pvt Ltd (APPPL), a joint venture between Adani Group and Petronet LNG Limited, in Bharuch to transport coal from its jetty to railway yard, has come under opposition from the local villagers who have filed a public interest litigation in the Gujarat High Court.
The villagers of Lakhi village in Vagda block of Bharuch have sought shifting of the over-head conveyer belt to transport the coal.
They have alleged that the construction of the conveyer belt was too close to residential area of the village and violative of the norms framed by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) in this regard.
According to GPCB guidelines such construction should be minimum 500 meters away from residential area.
They have said in the PIL that the conveyer belt, pillars on which it is erected and other infrastructure was being built within 10-15 meters of 40 houses of the village which was dangerous considering the nature of coal which is highly inflammable. Also, the dust which come with the coals could affect the health of the people living there.
The petitioners have demanded that the project be shifted away from the residential area. APPPL lawyer opposed the allegation by the petitioner and said that the conveyer belt was enclosed one so there is no possibility of dust coming out or coal falling on house below it.
Based on the representation on behalf of the petitioners division bench of acting chief justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala issued notices to the state government and Bharuch district officials and scheduled next hearing for June 15.
