The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has accorded environmental and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) approval to the Adani Group's Adani Hazira Port Pvt Ltd (AHPPL) for multi-cargo port with supporting utilities and infrastructure facilities at Hazira Surat.
The ministry in its recent communication to the company maintained that "The Expert Appraisal Committee, after due consideration of the relevant documents submitted by the project proponent and additional clarifications furnished in response to its observations, have recommended for the grant of Environmental and CRZ Clearance for the project."
"Accordingly, the Ministry hereby accord necessary Environmental and CRZ Clearance for the above project subject to strict compliance of the terms and conditions," the letter noted.
Adani had sought prior Environmental and CRZ Clearance for the project under the EIA Notification - 2006 and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011 in September 2012.
The company intends to develop multi-cargo port with supporting utilities and infrastructure facilities at Hazira, Surat.
The plan involves development of total 12 berths out of which 7 berths will be developed in first five years plan, including two container berths, one coal berth, one liquid berth, three multi- purpose berths for handling bulk cargo.
In the supporting utilities and infrastructure facilities, company intends to develop facilities such as Ro-Ro terminal, internal roads, rail corridor and HT power transmission Line.
This clearance is subject to final order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of Goa Foundation Vs. Union of India in Writ Petition (Civil) No.460 of 2004 as may be applicable to this project, the ministry noted.
The ministry has asked the company that periodical study on shore line changes shall be conducted and mitigation carried out if necessary. "The details shall be submitted along with the six monthly monitoring report," the conditions of the clearance stated. Also, oil spills if any shall be properly collected and disposed as per the rules and proper oil contingency management plan shall be put in place.
Further periodical monitoring of sea water quality at the out let shall be carried out to check that the discharge is meeting the standards and not causing any impact to marine life. Transport of cargo shall in closed system and dust control viz water sprinkler, along conveyor and transfer point shall be provided.
Another condition for the clearance is that construction activity shall be carried out strictly as per the provisions of CRZ Notification, 2011. No construction work other than those permitted in Coastal Regulation Zone Notification shall be carried out in Coastal Regulation Zone area, the conditions stated.
AHPPL is the developer and operator of the port under a sub-concession agreement with Hazira Port Pvt Ltd - a joint venture of Shell BV and Gaz De France.
HPPL operates a LNG terminal at Hazira under a concession agreement with the government of Gujarat. HPPL has granted exclusive sub-concession to Adani Hazira Port Pvt Ltd to develop non-LNG port facilities at Hazira.
