Justice Dharmadhikari, Chairman of the Dahanu Tehsil Environment Protection Authority, had earlier warned that granting permission for the project would adversely affect the environment in neighbouring areas. The authority was set up by the Centre following a Supreme Court order.

``I will meet Justice Dharmadhikari to convince him the need to clear the project in the interest of the state,'' Joshi told media persons after the weekly cabinet meeting.

Joshi said that he would ask the officials of the Port Department whether the Authority took into consideration the legal and environmental aspects while examining the proposals. But, the Chief Minister felt the Authority had looked only into the legal aspects and might have ignored the environmental considerations. ``I am not sure of these aspects,'' he said.

Replying a question, Joshi said his government was well within its powers to issue a letter of intent to P and O for the Rs 4000 crore project. The Chief Minister said he had personally written a letter to P and O to act fast and get the environmental clearance from appropriate authorities. ``But their initiative was not upto the mark,'' Joshi remarked.