Lok Sabha Question No. 2004 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Environmental Clearance for Expansion of Ports
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Uttam Kumar Nalamada Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2004

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 14.03.2022

## Environmental Clearance for Expansion of Ports

## 2004.   SHRI UTTAM KUMAR REDDY NALAMADA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any complaints regarding flouting of environmental regulations regarding ports owned by Adani Group or Special Economic Zones(SEZ);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of plans for expansion of ports owned by the Adani Group or SEZ;
- (d) whether these plans have acquired the required environmental clearances and if so, the details  thereof  and  whether  any  studies  have  been  undertaken  prior  to  issuing  said environmental clearances;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure the Adani Group and SEZ comply to the environmental regulations and preserve the biodiversity of the port surrounding areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (f) Ministry  has  received  complaints  in  the  past  about  ports  owned  by  Adani Group regarding various environmental issues pertaining to land allocations, public hearing, non-compliance of environmental conditions, impact on environment due to project activity etc. Four port expansion proposals were received during year 2016-2021out of which EC has already  been  grantedfor  three  proposals  at  Dajeh,  Hazira  and  Gangavaram  under  the provisions of EIA Notification, 2006. For one proposal at Kattupalli, ToR has been granted for  conduct  of  EIA/EMP  studies.  As  per  EIA  notification,  2006,  as  amended  from  time  to time,  prior  environmental  clearance  before  the  start  of  the  project  is  required  for  all  new Projects and/or activities or modernization of existing projects as listed in the Schedule to this Notification.The process of prior Environmental Clearance involves examination at different stages such as screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal. Environmental Impact Assessment  (EIA)  Report  along  with  Environmental  Management  Plan  (EMP)  is  prime requirement for the grant of environmental clearance for such projects.

A  detailed  scrutiny  of  the  EIA/EMP  report  takes  place  during  the  appraisal  of  the project by an independent Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) having experts from the field of  science  and  engineering.  EAC,  depending  upon  the  location  of  the  project,  prescribes specific  conditions  related  to  biodiversity  conservation  &environmental  protection  etc.The conditions prescribed in the Environmental Clearance (EC) are monitored by the Ministry. Ministry  has  been  taking  series  of  actions  to  monitor  and  enforce  strict  adherence  to  EC norms.

*****

## Details of expansion projects of ports owned by the Adani Group or SEZ (2016-20)

|   S. no | Project Details                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | EC/ToR   | Date of EC/ToR grant   |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|------------------------|
|      01 | Expansion of Adani Petronet (Dahej) Port Private Limited from 11.7 MMTPA to 23 MMTPA Multi- Cargo Port by M/s Adani PetronetDahej Port Pvt Ltd. Proposal No. IA/GJ/MIS/30886/2013 File No. 11-37/2007-IA.III (EC)                                                                                 | EC       | 17 March 2016          |
|      02 | Development of Project Multi cargo port with supporting utilities and infrastructure facilities at Hazira, Surat, Gujarat by M/s Adani Hazira Port Private Limited. Proposal No. IA/GJ/MIS/428/2010 File No. 10-80/2018-1A-III (EC)                                                               | EC       | 13 August 2020         |
|      03 | Proposed Revised Master Plan development of Kattupalli Port by Marine Infrastructure Developer Private Limited (MIDPL) at Kattupalli, Ponneri Taluka, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu by M/s Marine Infrastructure Developer Private Limited (MIDPL) (ToR)                                        | ToR      | 15 th October, 2019    |
|      04 | Environment &CRZClearance under Clause 7 (ii) of EIA Notification, 2006 and amendments thereafter - Increase in cargo handling capacity from 40.95 to 60.95 MTPA with existing 9 berths and within approved project area of 1800 acre through modernisation/mechanisation at Gangavaram Port (EC) | EC       | 24 th December, 2021   |