The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday permitted the removal of mud and debris in a project to expand the fisheries harbour at Bunder here. It has, however, imposed certain conditions.
Construction was halted with the tribunal ordering a status quo on a petition filed by Mangalorean Octavia Albuquerque and others in April this year. The tribunal stayed the project saying that it was filling up a natural creek, violating the Coastal Regulation Zone rules.
A miscellaneous application was filed seeking permission for Yojaka India Pvt. Ltd., which is executing the expansion project, to remove debris and mud lying on the banks of the creek saying that this was necessary to prevent more damage.
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The tribunal made it clear that the project proponent, under this order, would not be permitted to remove any material from the ‘Project site No. 1 and the creek around.’
The tribunal disposed of the application on Wednesday and clarified that there was no need to modify the order of the status quo. Allowing debris removal from a project site marked ‘No. 2’, it imposed the conditions that debris and mud should be carried and dumped legally at an appropriate site; mud and debris should not be pushed into the river under any circumstances; records should be maintained and the removal of debris and mud and its disposal should be videographed.
Regarding the original appeal, filed by Ms. Albuquerque and others, the tribunal asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to file its response in two weeks.
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The tribunal had set up a committee to study the alleged violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone rules.
It said the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ right to file a response shall stand forfeited, if it did not file it within the deadline.
The matter has been posted to December 10 for further hearing which, it said, would continue day to day.
The tribunal allowed an association of fishermen to implead in the case.