SC halts construction activity on Rs 2k cr extension of Karwar port

31 Mar 2022 CW Team

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the project proponent to stop all construction work on a Rs 2,000 crore extension of the commercial Karwar port in Karnataka.

A bench led by Chief Justice N V Ramana dismissed a claim made by senior advocate Maninder Singh on behalf of DVP Infra Projects Private Ltd that the project's delay would increase costs, claiming that the beaches and environment could not be destroyed.

The bench issued notice to the Karnataka government and others in response to a petition filed by the Baithkol Bandharu Nirashrithara Yanteikrut Dhoni Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha Niyamitha. The court made an oral ruling prohibiting any further construction activities.

The petitioner, led by senior advocate Devadatt Kamat and advocate Amit Pai, questioned the legality of the High Court's ruling on July 29, 2021, which dismissed their challenge to the project.

The construction activities had begun, according to the council, based on the environmental clearance granted by state-level authorities on January 23, 2019, which violated the September 14, 2006, Environment Impact Assessment notification.

The lawyers asked for a status quo on the project after the Supreme Court agreed to look into it. The appeal argued that the High Court overlooked the fact that Karwar is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, with the pristine beauty of the coast and beaches attracting visitors from all over the country.

The project for the 2nd Stage Expansion of the Karwar Port has the impact of directly and adversely impacting the people's right to enjoy the beach, which is in direct violation of Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution.

Image Source

Also read: Karnataka plans to build airports in all major cities across state

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..