The Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) has called for a time-bound inquiry into alleged administrative lapses and conflicting official submissions over the expansion of Vizhinjam International Seaport, after a Kerala High Court interim order halted construction at Pulinkudy beach over questions about environmental clearances.
In a statement, TCCI said the developments raised serious concerns about administrative negligence, inadequate coordination among government departments and contradictory positions presented before the court. It urged the Kerala government to establish the facts, fix responsibility and initiate disciplinary or legal action if negligence or deliberate misrepresentation was established.
The Kerala High Court on Sunday directed Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL) to temporarily halt construction at Pulinkudy beach, south of the port, after noting that it had not demonstrated the required environmental clearances before it.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M observed that ambiguity remained over the construction being undertaken by VISL and Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd.
The court referred to a counter-affidavit filed by the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA), which stated that the work at Pulinkudy was neither part of VISL’s existing or proposed master plan nor covered by the environmental clearance issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Observing that further construction could affect the coastal environment if the requisite approvals had not been obtained, the court ordered a joint inspection under the supervision of the Union Environment Ministry, with the petitioner and all respondents present. It also directed the ministry to file an affidavit clarifying whether the construction had secured all statutory clearances, supported by relevant documents.
The interim order has brought regulatory compliance relating to the port’s capacity augmentation into focus. The authorities are now required to clarify the status of statutory approvals for the disputed construction before the next hearing, while TCCI has called for accountability and corrective action if any lapses are established.