Green tribunal posts creek case to Oct. 29

Mangalore Karnataka :Construction activity of the III Phase of Bunder Fishing Harbour has come to a stand still after court ordered stay iin Mangalore on Thursday 18th September 2014. Photo: R.Eswarraj

The New Delhi-based Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal on Thursday posted to October 29 an appeal for modification of its order that stayed the Rs. 57.6-crore project to expand the fishery harbour at Bunder here.

The 2011 construction work, subsequently revised to Rs. 100 crore, was halted after the Bench ordered maintenance of status quo on the petition filed by Mangalorean Octavia Albuquerque and others against the Union government of India and others. The Tribunal stayed the project saying that the project was filling up a natural creek in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.

A miscellaneous application was filed seeking permission for Yojaka India Pvt. Ltd., which is executing the expansion project to remove debris or mud lying on the banks of the creek, saying this was necessary to prevent further damage.

The Tribunal had appointed an expert committee to look into the issue.

Objection filing

The Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal on Thursday directed the appellants in the case to file in two weeks their objection to a report of the expert committee that had inspected the spot.

On Thursday, the counsel appearing for Ministry of Environment and Forests submitted that the report of the committee as well as colour images be placed on record, which was granted.

The counsel appearing for the State of Karnataka was also directed to place on record the relevant photographs within one week from in terms of the CRZ amendment. The Bench granted liberty to the applicant to file objection to the report within two weeks.