The Bombay High Court granted permission to the Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra Ltd. (AEMIL) to cut 209 mangroves for the construction of a high voltage transmission line proposed to increase electricity supply in the city and suburbs, noting it was a project of public importance.
“We deem it appropriate to confer the desired permission by taking into consideration the importance of the project to the public at large,” Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre wrote in their order on February 6.
The AEMIL, had filed a petition seeking permission to fell 209 mangroves near Vasai Creek to enable the construction of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link between two of its transmission substations. This project is an 80 km stretch, which consists of 30 km of overhead transmission lines and the remaining 50 km underground cable. The HVDC lines would pass through Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar districts.
Adani, in its petition said that just one kilometre of the HVDC will pass through the mangrove areas just 2.2 km of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) of the Vasai creek.
“The need for sustainable development and the requirement to maintain the environment must strike a balance. The project of construction of electricity transmission line is critical for the city of Mumbai as the existing capacity of transmission corridor is not sufficient to carry further power into the city. The HVDC project would enable additional power to be supplied to Mumbai and suburbs and shall meet the ever increasing energy demands of the city,“ the HC said in its order.
The court ordered also observed that AEMIL had obtained all permissions to begin the project on March 21. The order granting relief to the Adani Group assumes significance as an earlier September 2018 order said that “mangroves cannot be permitted to be destructed by the State for private, commercial or any other use unless the Court finds it necessary for the public good or public interest”.
Published - February 11, 2025 08:45 pm IST
