HC orders probe into removal of mangroves

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court on Monday ordered a special team to visit the sea coast near Mundra in Kutch to find out whether the Adani group was involved in removal of mangrove cover in violation of HC directions.
A bench headed by Justice Jayant Patel ordered this inquiry on the basis of a contempt of court petition against the Adani group. The team that will go for inspection consists of district collector and DSP, besides an officer nominated by Coastal Regulation Zone Authority.
A PIL was moved by villagers of Zarpara, which is located near Adani port, challenging industrial activities of the company. The villagers accused the company of flouting environment norms and causing damage to environment. They had specifically mentioned the illegal cutting of mangrove trees that allegedly aggravate problems of salinity ingress.
On July 12, the court had asked the company not to disturb the mangrove cover without prior permission from concerned authority. But the contempt petition claimed that in spite of the court order, the company did not stop its activities.
After hearing the grievance of the villagers, the court ordered the team to visit the area and submit its report by September 28.