Good news for Gautam Adani: In a significant win for Gautam Adanis Adani Cementation Limited the Bombay High Court permitted Adani Cementation Limited to cut 158 mangrove trees for its proposed jetty project along the Amba river in Maharashtras Raigad district. The project estimated at Rs 172 crore aims to reduce road congestion and carbon emissions by shifting freight movement to water transport. Here are all the details you need to know about the Adani groups project. A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre however emphasised the importance of balancing development with environmental conservation and directed the company to strictly adhere to the conditions imposed by regulatory authorities. While the project serves commercial interests it must not lead to excessive depletion of natural resources the HC said. The court said a balance needs to be struck between the necessity of the project which aims at meeting the ever-increasing need for cement and at the same time not compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. “By ensuring that any activity though aimed as a commercial activity do not deplete the available natural resources and even if it does so in any minimised way by ensuring that its loss is compensated by considering that all the statutory permissions have been secured by the Petitioner and with the requisite compliances to be ensured at every level when the necessary permissions were granted we are convinced that the Project propounded by the Petitioner deserve our approval but it shall be subject to the condition that the Petitioner shall ensure compliance of the conditions imposed upon it by various statutory authorities the Court was quoted saying in a report by Bar and Bench. It is necessary to ensure that the project results in minimum damage to the environment and natural resources particularly when the entire planet is coping with the crisis of climate change biodiversity loss and pollution the high court said. About Petition by Adani Cementation The HC was hearing a petition by Adani Cementation seeking permission to cut mangroves to facilitate construction of a berthing jetty conveyor corridor and approach road to transport cement clinker and raw materials via waterways. Reason why Bombay High Court Allows Adani Group firm to cut Mangroves The high court noted that the project serves a public purpose by supporting infrastructure development in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region which relies heavily on cement transported over long distances. We find exhaustive deliberation about the nature of the project covering a jetty to be used for transporting cement through sea or inland waterways instead of road which according to us will achieve the object of easing congestion in roads and help in reduction of carbon emission by more than 60 per cent the HC said. (With inputs from agencies)