HC seeks VADA reply on ‘illegal’ construction by Essar Oil

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday asked the Vadinar Area Development Authority (VADA) in Jamnagar district to file its reply to a public interest litigation (PIL) that has alleged that Essar Oil Limited (EOL) has constructed a residential colony for its staff without VADA’s permission.

The petition has been moved by one Shamji Chavda from Vadinar in Jamnagar. “We are seeking direction from the court to the state government either to demolish the construction or to impose a fine on the company for the illegal construction,” said Chavda’s lawyer Vijay Nangesh.

He said EOL authorities have claimed they obtained the permission. “We’ve informed the court that they took the permission after the petition was filed,” he added.