Supreme Court issued notice to Adani Krishnapatnam Port Ltd (AKPL) over a case involving coal dust pollution and environmental violations. AKPL is challenging the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order that asked for environmental compensation.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India sent a notice to Adani Krishnapatnam Port Limited (AKPL) regarding an appeal filed by the company.
This appeal is against a February 2025 order passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had directed a penalty to be imposed on AKPL for causing environmental damage due to coal dust pollution and not following environmental clearance rules.
A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar of the Supreme Court asked the other parties in the case to respond to AKPL’s appeal.
However, the Supreme Court clearly said it would not stop (stay) the NGT’s order without hearing from the other side first.
The whole case started after a local person named Bonigi Rangaiah complained to the NGT. He said that coal handling activities at Krishnapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh were causing serious problems like coal dust spreading to nearby villages, which was affecting air quality, plants, and people’s health.
His complaint also pointed out that the port had not created a greenbelt (a protective zone of trees), was not using modern machines for handling cargo, and was using private groundwater, which is against environmental rules.
Even though the complaint was later withdrawn after the port reportedly made some changes to reduce pollution, the NGT continued with the case. This was because a report submitted by a joint team from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB), and the District Collector confirmed that AKPL had clearly broken environmental rules in the past.
The report said the port had failed to:
- Mechanise the coal handling work at its southern berths.
- Install permanent systems to reduce coal dust.
- Build a 100-meter-wide greenbelt around the coal storage area.
After studying the report, the NGT gave its final order on February 13, 2025. In this order, the NGT asked the APPCB to collect an environmental fine from AKPL for the time it did not follow the rules. The NGT also gave some additional directions:
“Timelines be fixed for full compliance with earlier directions, including the mechanisation of berths and use of treated municipal sewage for dust suppression.”
“Penalties be imposed for any delay in implementation.”
“Native tall-growing species such as Bamboo Giganteus and Burflower Tree (Neolamarckia cadamba) be planted as part of the greenbelt.”
AKPL did not agree with this order and decided to move the Supreme Court. The company argued that the NGT’s decision and the penalty were not fair, especially since the original complaint was taken back and steps had already been taken to reduce pollution.
Senior Advocate Dhruv Mehta, who represented AKPL in the Supreme Court, strongly argued that:
“The entire litigation before the NGT transpired without impleading them or hearing them.”
Because of this, he asked the court to put a stay (hold) on the NGT’s decision.
- Dhruv Mehta was supported by a legal team from Karanjawala & Co, led by Senior Partner Ruby Singh Ahuja.
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