KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd (AVPL) to ensure that quarrying of boulders for the port project at Pirappancode in Thiruvananthapuram and its transportation to the port site are done without causing any danger or nuisance to the public.
Justice Anu Sivaraman also directed police to provide adequate protection for quarrying and transportation of the boulders for the project as AVPL has the requisites licences and clearances. The court was considering a petition (WP-C No. 16288/2022) filed by AVPL seeking police protection.
It was alleged by AVPL that the residents of the locality are opposing quarrying and transportation of boulders but police is not taking action. The residents’ counsel T Sanjay submitted that the residents are not opposed to quarrying and transportation but that they are put to severe hardship due to the plying of the heavy vehicles on the narrow panchayat roads and that children going to the school are also being put to difficulty.
The residents are not able to use the panchayt roads now and they are monopolized by AVPL’s vehicles, the court was told. AVPL’s counsel submitted that no such obstruction is caused and appropriate steps will be taken if there is any such complaint.
Recording the submissions, the court directed police to provide protection to AVPL’s activities if there is obstruction by the locals. The court then directed, “The petitioner shall also take steps to see that there is no obstruction to the use of the roads by the general public and that the quarrying operations and the transportation is done strictly in accordance with the permissions granted and without causing any danger or nuisance to the public.”
