Gujarat High Court asks govt to ensure protection of sand-dunes at Adani SEZ

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court today directed the state forest department to ensure that no damage was done to the sand dunes at Adani Special Economic Zone in the Mundra tehsil of Kutch district.

A division bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Pravinsinh Chauhan, a local resident.

The HC also ordered the Adani group to file an affidavit in reply in two weeks on the allegation in the PIL that existing sand dunes were destroyed.

Kutch collector Mahendra Patel -- ordered by the court to remain present today for failing to file his reply -- appeared before the court and submitted an affidavit.

Citing the forest department's reply, Patel's affidavit said the area where the dunes were located was not alloted to Adani group and it had not carried out any work there.

The petitioner has alleged that Adani group flattened the sand dunes near the sea-shore at Tunda and Vandh villages.

Sand dunes act as natural wall against the sea water during tsunami or cyclones, the PIL says. It also accuses the company of destruction of mangroves.

The next hearing would be on August 11.