Bombay High Court Permits Mangrove Removal for Rs 76,220 Crore Vadhvan Port Project

The Bombay High Court has allowed the removal of mangroves for the Vadhvan Port Project in Palghar district, citing its public importance and economic significance. A bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande on Tuesday permitted the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to fell 208 mangrove trees for constructing an eight-lane highway connecting the port to NH-48.

The court noted that the project had secured all necessary environmental, coastal regulation zone, and forest clearances. It also complied with compensatory afforestation requirements, including the planting of 1.33 lakh mangroves on 30 hectares and a deposit of over Rs 4.83 crore.

The High Court stated that the Vadhvan Port, being developed as a major port on the landlord port model, would provide crucial connectivity and help India enter the top 10 container ports globally. The NHAI had sought court approval due to an earlier order in a mangrove protection PIL that requires prior permission for mangrove destruction even in public projects.

The Vadhvan Port Project Limited (VVPL) said the clearance resolves key pending issues, allowing the project to proceed at full pace. Chairman and Managing Director Gaurav Dayal expressed confidence in timely execution and commissioning.

The all-weather, greenfield port at Vadhvan near Dahanu is being built by a special purpose vehicle of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Maharashtra Maritime Board. It will include nine container terminals, multipurpose berths, liquid cargo berths, and a Coast Guard berth. The project involves reclaiming 1,448 hectares from the sea and constructing 10.14 km of breakwater.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on August 30, 2024, for the Rs 76,220 crore project, which aims to be among the world's top 10 container ports.