Chennai: The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on Friday informed the southern bench of the national green tribunal that it had granted environmental clearance (EC) to develop a port at Vizhinjam, near Thiruvananthapuram, by Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), after considering the views of the state government and response of the people.
When the matter came up before the bench comprising judicial member, Justice M. Chockalingam, and expert member R. Nagendran, counsel for the Union ministry, C. Sangamithrai, submitted that an expert appraisal committee (EAC) had also considered the project proponents and Indian Navy and Coast Guard officials had also filed a report in support of the project.
Advocate general of Kerala, K.P. Dandapani, submitted, “The project should not be stalled at the cost of a few persons.” He sought early disposal of the matter. Social activists A. Joseph Vijayan, P. Michael and P. Christopher, a fisherman from Poonthura, had filed the petition challenging the EC and coastal regulation zone clearance accorded for the port, which would be developed in the open sea by reclaiming coastal waters.
In the petition, they alleged that the EC was given without considering the adverse impact which may be posed by the proposed port to the rich and pristine marine environment of the coastal waters due to reclamation and construction of artificial structures. The ministry had also not considered the plight of fishermen and the thousands of local people living in the area. The tribunal has posted the matter to May 2 for further hearing.
