An Australian delegation that includes cricket personalities Ian and Greg Chappell has urged India-based Adani Enterprises to scrap the coal mine project near the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.
The delegation submitted an open letter signed by roughly 90 Australians to Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani.
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The controversial A$21.7bn ($16bn) development is scheduled to begin construction this year and has already received approval from the federal and Queensland state governments, reported LiveMint.
Press Trust of India reported that plans include the dredging of 1.1 million cubic metres of spoil near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The letter is expected to be personally hand-delivered, and cites environmental damage, risks to miners’ health and impact on Great Barrier Reef as reasons to suspend the coal project.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks, Australian-based British comedian Ben Elton and investment banker Mark Burrows are also among the signatories.
Ian Chappell was quoted by ABC Television as saying: “Cricket has a bit to do with the feeling between India and Australia. The thought that this [mine] could affect the relationship, hopefully that'll get through.”
The Adani Group is yet to take the final investment decision for the project.
Image: An island in southern Great Barrier Reef. Photo: courtesy of Ciambue/Wikipedia.
