Palghar, May 1 (PTI) The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has been appointed to evaluate the environmental impact of the ambitious Vadhvan port project being developed in Palghar district of Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday.
The appointment was done as per the Supreme Court's directions, an official statement said.
The Supreme Court had on February 28 this year asked the Centre to consider appointing an expert body over the impending damage to the environment due to the Vadhavan port in Maharashtra.
The Vadhvan Port Project Ltd (VPPL), a joint venture between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), received approval from the competent authority to appoint NEERI, it said.
The institute will study environmental concerns raised by petitioners and review reports by expert institutions as per the terms of reference set by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA), it said.
NEERI will also assess the sufficiency of current monitoring mechanisms by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and DTEPA, and determine whether additional safeguards are necessary, the statement added.
The institute has been mandated to submit the final report within 30 days through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, it said.
Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman of the JNPA and CMD of the VPPL, said, "At Vadhvan Port Project Ltd, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of environmental responsibility and transparency. The engagement of NEERI, as approved in compliance with the Supreme Court's directive, marks a constructive step towards a thorough and independent assessment of the project's environmental impact."
Strategically located in Palghar district near Dahanu, the VPPL aims to be one of the top 10 ports globally with a handling capacity of 24 million TEUs.
On August 30 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Vadhvan Port, which will be India’s largest deep-water port with an investment of Rs 76,220 crore.