A fresh appraisal has been ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the proposed expansion of Port Pipavav in Amreli district of Gujarat. The NGT on August 22 kept in abeyance for six months the clearance granted for expansion of Port Pipavav and asked the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the State government to conduct a fresh appraisal of the project.
NGT's bench headed by the Tribunal's judicial member Justice V Kingaonkar put on hold the environmental clearance given to the Gujarat Pipavav Port (GPPL) on the plea of NGO Gau Raxa Hitraxak Manch and Gauchar Paryavaran Bachav Trust representing the villagers close to the port.
The NGT has asked the assigned authorities to find the merits and demerits, whatsoever, of the project.