: The Cochin Port Trust’s proposal for a multi-user liquid terminal project at Puthuvypeen has run into rough weather with a technical group of the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) objecting to reclamation in CRZ Zone 1 and destruction of mangroves.
The group has noted that “stern action may be initiated against port trust for destroying mangrove in the area and reclaiming the CRZ I (1) area by invoking section 5 of Environment Protection Act and rules”.
The note has been included in the agenda of the 68 meeting of the Authority (Agenda Item No. 68.4.120, File No. 2899/A2/2014/KCZMA/S&TD).
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It also noted that the “Environment Impact Assessment report of the project was vague and was not submitted as per Government of India guidelines”.
The Rs. 240-crore project envisages construction of a main berth with service platform, breasting dolphins, mooring dolphins along with pipeline trestles for handling LPG, crude oil, bunker fuel and other POL cargo to handle vessels. A three-storied operational building and an access road to the berths from the main road has also been proposed.
According to the agenda note, the “area for the proposed activity was reclaimed recently as per the CRZ report prepared by IRS, Anna University. The other areas are with mangrove vegetation. Hence they are categorised CRZ I (i),” it said.
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It also noted that the CPT had reclaimed an inland water body, which falls in CRZ Zone 4. The project area fell within CRZ 1 (i) and CRZ 4. The clause 8 (1) of the CRZ 2011 notification states that no new construction shall be permitted in CRZ I except for projects relating to Department of Atomic Energy, pipelines, conveying systems including transmission lines and facilities that are essential for activities permissible under CRZ–I, installation of weather radar for monitoring of cyclones movement and prediction by Indian Meteorological Department and the construction of trans-harbour sea link and without affecting the tidal flow of water between low tide line and high tide line.” Howerver, CPT authorities denied the charges of reclamation and destruction of mangroves.
Guruprasad Rai, Chief Engineer of the CPT, said that the agency was committed to protecting mangroves and had not destroyed even one plant.
The water body, as reported in the note, got levelled up due to accretion.
The CPT carried out the reclamation in the area between low tide and high tide lines as per the Environment Impact Assessment of the Government of India, Mr. Rai said.