Bombay HC Gives Nod To Adani's Jetty Construction Project

 

The Bombay High Court has recently permitted Adani Cementation to cut 158 mangrove trees for its proposed jetty project which is going to be carried out along the Amba river in Maharashtra's Raigad district. This is a big win for the Adani Group's cement business. This project is estimated at INR 172 crore. It aims to reduce road congestion and carbon emissions by shifting freight movement to water transport. This project will give an excellent boost to the Adani Group's cement business. It will also put an end to the ongoing controversies of the Adani Fraud Case.

What Caused The Bombay High Court To Give Its Approval To The Adani Group To Cut 158 Mangrove Trees For Its Jetty Project? 

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre emphasised the importance of balancing development with environmental conservation and it directed the company to adhere to the conditions which were imposed by regulatory authorities. This project is meant for the commercial interest of the people. However, it must not lead to excessive depletion of natural resources. The High Court mentioned that a balance needs to be struck between the various necessities of the project which aims at meeting the ever-growing demand for cement in the country at the same time not compromising the ability of our future generations to meet their growing needs.

As per the High Court, companies should ensure that any activity aimed at bringing about commercial development does not deplete natural resources. Even if it does so, it is minimised by ensuring that its loss is compensated. The companies should also ensure that all the statutory permissions have been secured by the petitioner. The required compliances will also have to be fulfilled at every level. The necessary permissions were granted to the Adani Group when the High Court was convinced that the project deserved the approval. However, it shall be subject to various conditions and the petitioner shall ensure compliance of the conditions imposed upon it by different statutory authorities.

It is also important to ensure that the project results in minimum damage to the environment and natural resources. This is particularly important when the entire planet is trying to cope with the crisis of degrading biodiversity, drastic climate change, and pollution. Now this recent approval received from the Bombay High Court is a big win for the Adani Group's cement business. It will also allow the group to win back the trust of the people post the controversies of the Adani FraudCase.

Why Did The Adani Group Take Up The Jetty Construction Project Along The Amba River?

The project is estimated at INR 172 crore. It aims to reduce road congestion and carbon emissions by shifting freight movement to water transport. The High Court mentioned that the project is of public purpose. It supports infrastructure development in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area which heavily relies on cement transported over long distances. Through this project, the Adani Group aims to reduce carbon emissions by over 60% in cement transition. It also aims to ensure that the road congestion is reduced significantly.

The project connects Adani Cement's proposed cement grinding unit, fly ash processing unit and backup storage unit in Shahapur and Shahbaz villages in Raigad district. It covers a total of 6 hectares of land with the presence of mangroves in around 0.6497 hectares. The jetty would be of a total length of 620 m and a width of 35 m. The Adani Group mentioned that considering the increase in the demand for cement particularly in Mumbai for various development works, the present demand was being made through the production units in the Kalburgi District in Karnataka and Vidarbha District in Maharashtra.

As the production units are located far away from Mumbai, the cement is required to be transported through roads and railways. This leads to heavy congestion of roads. It also leaves behind a huge carbon footprint. The company stated that it conceptualised setting up the cement manufacturing unit along the Amba River in an attempt to reduce its carbon footprint. The jetty construction will help in the reduction of pollution. It will also trigger infrastructural development in Mumbai. The Adani Group’s cement business will witness excellent growth. The global business group’s revenue generation will also increase, further bringing about economic growth and development in India.

Adani's Initiatives Towards Preserving The Environment:

The Adani Group is already known for its extraordinary contributions towards bringing about various developments in society. Since time immemorial, the global conglomerate has taken up various steps towards ensuring that the environment is preserved through its various project operations. The business group has aimed to ensure that the damage caused to the environment is reduced. It has also taken up a lot of extraordinary steps which are further aimed at ensuring that various innovative technologies are used in its project operations. This has further minimised the damage caused to the environment. The steps also helped the Adani Group in further taking its business to new heights.

Conclusion:

By acquiring the necessary approvals from the Bombay High Court to continue work on the jetty construction project, the Adani Group has managed to give its cement business an excellent boost. The global business group has also been able to establish itself as one of the key players in the cement sector. It has also been able to put a stopper to the controversies of the Adani Fraud Case which have been ongoing for quite a while now.