KOCHI: The National Green Tribunal has dismissed an appeal filed by two protesters against the extension of environment clearance (EC) for the IOC’s LPG import terminal at Puthuvype.
The Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change had in January granted clearance for the project. The tribunal found the appeal was not filed on time. Under the law, an appeal against the grant of environment clearances has to be proffered within 30 days of the grant.
In this case, the appellants put forward the appeal more than 91 days from the grant of environment clearance. Also, the appeal was filed without an application explaining the delay. Although the appellants tried to convince the Tribunal the grant of environment clearance was not communicated to them, the Tribunal felt uploading of the clearance by the Ministry on its website was sufficient.
This has come as a shot in arm for the PSU oil major which is battling protests from a small section of the public over this project, an IOC officer said.