New Delhi, Feb. 28 -- The Supreme Court has asked the Union government to consider appointing an independent expert agency to evaluate the potential environmental impact of the Rs.76,000 crore Vadhavan Port project in Maharashtra's Palghar district.

A bench comprising Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued the interim order on Friday while hearing a plea by the National Fishworkers Forum, which opposes the project on environmental and livelihood grounds.

Though the court did not halt the project, it noted the government's assurance that no significant construction work is planned at this stage.

"Prima facie, this will destroy the environment ... Don't start the work, appoint an agency," the bench observed.

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