Expansion of Cargo Handling Capacity at JSW Dharamtar Port Recommended for Environmental Clearance Approval.

A sub-committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment has flagged environmental concerns at JSW Dharamtar Port during a site inspection of its jetty facility on Dharamtar Creek in Raigad district, Maharashtra, according to official observations.

The committee noted that mangroves in the area were covered with coal and iron ore dust, alongside instances of wastewater discharge into the surrounding ecosystem. It also warned of a potential increase in river water turbidity due to coal spillage during cargo handling operations linked to the nearby JSW Dolvi Steel Plant.

The inspection was carried out ahead of an expert panel recommendation to grant environmental clearance (EC) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) approval for expanding the port’s cargo handling capacity from 33.95 million tonnes per annum to 54 million tonnes per annum.

According to the sub-committee’s report, coal dust originating from material transfer between the port and the steel plant was found to be impacting mangrove vegetation along the creek. While the JSW Foundation has undertaken a mangrove restoration initiative in Dolvi since 2016, planting 2.5 million saplings with an 85% survival rate, the report noted that existing mangroves near the port remain heavily affected by dust deposition.

The report stated that some mitigation efforts, including tree plantation buffers between the jetty and mangrove areas, have been undertaken but appear ineffective in preventing dust accumulation.

It also observed coal spillage and wastewater discharge into mangrove zones between the jetty and land-side port area, cautioning that such activity could increase riverbed sedimentation and long-term ecological impact.

Further, the committee highlighted that while mangroves along the northern side of the jetty remain well-developed, they could face adverse effects from increased cargo handling even if operations are mechanised as proposed. It recommended that a minimum 15-foot-high barrier be constructed to separate mangroves from port operations and that a dedicated mangrove conservation plan be prepared for the northern stretch.

Minutes of the expert appraisal committee meeting noted that JSW Dharamtar Port acknowledged the observations and agreed to comply with the recommended mitigation measures.