Mumbai: The Supreme Court has vacated a stay on the work at Adani Group's Rs7,400-crore multi-product special economic zone in Gujarat, allowing the group to restart work.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, while dismissing the petition by a group of fishermen as withdrawn, asked the Adani Group not to fill the creeks.

Acting on a petition by fishermen that the project would affect their livelihood and flora and fauna in the region, the Supreme Court had, last week, directed the Adani Group to maintain status quo with regard to all activities taking place on the land.

The apex court had also issued notices to the union ministries of commerce, environment and forests, the Gujarat government, Mundra Ports and SEZ and the Adani Group.

Appearing for Adani Group, counsels Harish Salve and Ankur Chawla argued that the allegations against the SEZ were baseless and aimed at pressuring the group for illegal gains. The company had not indulged in land grabbing but had acquired the land strictly in accordance with law after giving a public hearing and paying compensation and premium for rehabilitation, they argued.

Since the petition stands dismissed and withdrawn at the SC, a petition pending with the Gujarat high court is also expected to be dismissed.

Mundra SEZ, established under the SEZ Act of 2005, is proposed to be set up over a 6,000-acre area with an investment of Rs7,400 crore.

The Mundra Port is a running port since 1998 and all related activities were being undertaken in accordance with the law and after obtaining necessary clearances, the company said in its petition.

The group had already invested over Rs3,500 crore in port development and planned to invest another Rs4,000 crore, the application said.

The Adani Group, with an annual turnover of $ 4.3 bilion, is a dynamic and well-diversified group having interests in oil and ports.

With interests in high-growth businesses like ports, power, infrastructure, international trade, logistics, energy, agriculture, fuel etc, the Adani Group is the operator of largest private port in India and the developer of the largest multi-product SEZ in India.

The group also have the largest edible oil refining capacity in India and is one of the largest trading houses in the country.