A three-member group of ministers (GOM) led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has been established by the Indian government to assess the environmental impact of the Vadhvan Port Project, budgeted at ₹76,220 crore. Joining Goyal are Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, and Bhupendra Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, as noted in an office memorandum dated April 30.
The GOM is tasked with evaluating a report from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and can co-opt additional members or experts for consultation on environmental concerns. This move aims to assist the Supreme Court, which is reviewing applications from the National Fishworker Forum and other environmental groups opposing the project’s environmental clearance.
In compliance with guidelines from the Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA), NEERI will provide its findings to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The Supreme Court has mandated that both the ministry and the Vadhvan Port Project Ltd. must evaluate the possibility of appointing a serious expert agency to assess potential environmental damages related to the project. The Court clarified that all activities concerning the port project are pending further orders from them.
