Gujarat High Court seeks state’s reply over wind farms in Mahuva

The Gujarat High Court on Monday issued a notice to the state government after some fishermen from Katpur and adjoining villages in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district approached court against the development of 19 wind farms in their area, which allegedly are affecting marine lives and birds.

Acting on the public interest litigation filed by Naresh Bambhaniya along with seven others, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav sought a reply from the state government, directing it to file its response by January 7. 

The wind farms have been developed by KP Energy Limited and the fishermen have alleged that the Bhavnagar district administration provided the company with the required land for the wind farms in gross violation of environmental norms.

The petitioners have alleged that the land allotted to the company in close proximity to the seashore is in gross violation of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ). It is their contention that the Mahuva mamlatdar on May 14, 2015, informed the collector about the violations of CRZ if the company is provided with the sought land, but the collector allegedly preferred to ignore the same.

The fishermen have also alleged that the area is the natural habitat of lions, tortoises, and vultures, and the company has also destroyed the mangroves for setting up the wind farms.