High Court seeks report on alleged sand dunes destruction in Adani SEZ

AHMEDABAD: In response to a public interest litigation, the Gujarat High Court today sought a report from the state government on whether activities at Adani group's special economic zone in Mundra tehsil have resulted in destruction of sand dunes.

The division bench Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala ordered the state revenue department and the collector of Kutch-Bhuj district to file 'a status report' by July 24.

Among other things, the court sought photographs of the place in Adani Port Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) in Tunda area where sand dunes were allegedly flattened.

The court also issued notices to APSEZ, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Union Ministry of Commerce, and others.

Pravinsingh Chauhan, the petitioner, hails from Kutch district. He has alleged that sand dunes near the coast at Tunda and Vandh villages were flattened.

Sand dunes act as a natural wall against ocean waves in the event of tsunami or cyclones, the PIL said. "The company has started spreading the sand of the dunes backwards, showing that the dunes never existed," it alleged.

The activities in the SEZ are also leading to destruction of mangroves and other vegetation in the area, it claimed, seeking a ban on all industrial activities in and around Tunda and Vandh villages.