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National Green Tribunal halts approval for Mormugao Port channel deepening in Goa
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 16 Oct 2026, 09:01 AM
👁 10
The National Green Tribunal has stayed the nod given to Mormugao Port’s channel‑deepening project in Goa, citing environmental concerns.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a stay order on the approval granted to the Mormugao Port Trust for deepening its navigation channel in Goa. The tribunal’s decision came after a petition raised concerns over the potential environmental impact of the project.
The channel‑deepening scheme was intended to increase the draft of the port, allowing larger vessels to berth and thereby boosting cargo handling capacity. However, the NGT observed that the environmental impact assessment submitted by the port authority did not adequately address the concerns raised by experts and local stakeholders.
Under the stay, the project cannot proceed until the port authority complies with the tribunal’s observations and secures a fresh environmental clearance. Shipping operators have warned that the delay could affect vessel schedules and freight rates.
The ruling underscores the growing scrutiny of coastal infrastructure projects in India, as courts balance development goals with ecological preservation.
The channel‑deepening scheme was intended to increase the draft of the port, allowing larger vessels to berth and thereby boosting cargo handling capacity. However, the NGT observed that the environmental impact assessment submitted by the port authority did not adequately address the concerns raised by experts and local stakeholders.
Under the stay, the project cannot proceed until the port authority complies with the tribunal’s observations and secures a fresh environmental clearance. Shipping operators have warned that the delay could affect vessel schedules and freight rates.
The ruling underscores the growing scrutiny of coastal infrastructure projects in India, as courts balance development goals with ecological preservation.