The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment has recommended environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the proposed expansion projects under Phase–III of the Kamarajar Port Ltd (KPL), after receiving certified compliance reports on the project from the Regional MoEF office in Chennai.
The project was earlier recommended for environmental clearance (EC) in May this year, but the EAC sought detailed deliberations on certain critical aspects of the project and referred it for re-appraisal for non-compliance of certain conditions laid out.
The committee noted that KPL had bought the lands for the expansion from TNEB, TIDCO, and the Salt Department. “Hence [there are] no direct project affected people by Kamarajar Port,” according to the minutes of the EAC meeting held on September 24.
Plan for mangroves
As per MoEF guidelines, the mangroves present near the project area were not to be disturbed and an action plan to conserve them was sought. The regional office of the MoEF had noted that KPL has left the mangrove area untouched and would transfer the cargo through elevated closed conveyors with dust control measures.
The ‘Action Taken Report’ noted that “KPL has conducted a study “Action plan and Ecological studies for Kamarajar Port” through National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, a unit of MoEF&CC, during May 2017. The report has identified the mangroves and also suggested various mitigation measures. The same will be implemented while exercising the master plan projects,” it said.
On issues raised by the Coastal Resource Centre (CRC), especially with regard to ‘Kamarajar Port’s intent to convert more than 1,000 acres of intertidal wetlands, including salt pans, into industrial real estate,’ the port management submitted that it has no intention to convert these into industrial real estates. “All development activities are planned beyond CRZ area in the land owned by KPL after obtaining Environment & CRZ clearance from authorities”.
Allegations denied
KPL also denied allegations made by the CRC that it was a repeat offender, but accepted that it had dumped a quantity of 73,000 cum of dredged materials at the South side of the North Chennai Thermal Power Station and at the west of Port Access Road.
But, KPL said, this has been removed from the inter-tidal zone of salt lands that were recently transferred to KPL and restored the original levels of salt lands.
KPL submitted multiple times in the Compliance Report before the EAC that it had no intention to encroach on any land for the construction of ancillary facilities. It further said the project does not have any adverse impact on land and marine environment.
