Coastal Gujarat Power Limited has been operating a 4,150 MW ultra mega imported coal and supercritical technology based power plant at the port city of Mundra in the state of Gujarat. In June 2011, a complaint representing various potentially affected fishing communities was filed with the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO). The complaint raised issues related to the projects social and environmental impact on fishing communities, decline of water quality and fish populations, blocked access to fishing and drying sites, forced displacement of fishermen, community health impacts due to air emissions, and devastation of natural habitats, particularly mangroves. The total project cost was estimated at $4.14 billion, of which IFC had financed $450 million in the form of a straight senior loan. The CAO had concluded that IFC had failed to ensure the project met the applicable environmental and social standards necessary for IFC projects. The IFC rejected the CAOs finding.
In 2018, petitioners knocked the door of the US Supreme Court after lower courts dismissed their petitions arguing that the IFC enjoyed immunity, like other foreign countries, under the 1945 International Organizations Immunity Act. In their petition, the villagers argued that the Tata Mundra Power Plant has failed to comply with international environmental standards. Local environment has been devastated, according to the plaintiffs, with marine life killed by water discharges from the plant's cooling system and coal dust contaminating the air. Earlier in 2015, the applicants Indian farmers, fishermen, a trade union of fishworkers had sued the IFC in the US District Court for the District of Columbia and lost as the courts had argued that IFC enjoys immunity.
Region Classification
Type of Land
Both
Private and Common
Type of Common Land
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
2812
Type of investment:
Land Area Affected
(in Hectares):