Panaji (Goa) The Bombay High at Goa today issued notice to Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) in a petition filed by the M/s South West Port Limited (SWPL) for grant of environment clearance for its terminal capacity expansion at berth No 5A and 6A at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).

“The petitioner seeks directions to the Minister of Environment and Forest to process the petitioner’s application for terminal capacity enhancement at Berth number 5A and 6A of MPT which is already considered and recommended by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry,” the petitioner pleaded.

The petitioner pointed out that the Ministry is not willing to process the application for grant of EC citing National Green Tribunal’s country wide order dated November 22, 2017.

The NGT in its order has put ban on granting permission for any projects pending finalization of coastal zone management plan for respective states.

Division Bench comprising of Justice S Kemkar and Justice Nutan Sardessai issued notice to MoEF.

The matter is posted for February 12.