Source: TNN
The subsequent phases of the project include the extension of the breakwater, berth, and yard reclamation.
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board is all set to conduct a public hearing on June 19 at Vizhinjam as part of the first step to obtain clearance. The people from Kottukal and Vizhinjam villages will be invited to the hearing. The total cost of the second and third phases is estimated to be Rs 9,540 crore. The Adani Group, the project’s concessionaire, can proceed with the development of the second and third phases only after obtaining environmental clearance.
A team of officials from the Union ministry of environment, forestry, and climate change had begun a study to assess the impact of the second and third phases of the port. The state govt had also directed the Adani Group to complete the second and third phases by 2028. Earlier, the deadline was 2045. This decision was made to ensure that the port’s expansion could be achieved within a shorter timeframe, allowing for earlier realization of the project’s benefits.
As per the notification issued by the pollution control board, the consultant for the environment impact assessment study is L&T Infrastructure Engineering Ltd. The hearing will be held in an auditorium at Kalluvettankuzhy, near Vizhinjam. The purpose of the hearing is to gather input from the local community regarding potential sources of pollution and their effects on various aspects of the environment, including land, air, noise, water, and the biological environment.
During the hearing, residents who have concerns about the project will have the opportunity to voice their apprehensions either verbally or in written form. This process aims to ensure that the opinions and worries of the local population are taken into consideration as part of the environmental impact assessment. “Public hearings are a statutory process for all projects before presenting the report to the Centre. This will be a platform for all people to record their views and suggestions about the second and third phases of the project. The pollution control board is facilitating it by presenting the executive summary of the project. Following the hearing, the suggestions will be examined in detail, and a report will be prepared. That report will be submitted to the Centre to obtain clearance. The proceedings are going on at a fast pace,” said Sreekumar K Nair, CEO, Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd.
Meanwhile, all 31 cranes, including eight ship-to-shore cranes, for the first phase of operations have been installed on the port. Zhen Hua-34, the ship that brought the four cranes, is expected to return shortly. One more cantilever rail-mounted gantry crane (CRMG) has to be installed, which will be done later. While the 2,960-meter breakwater has been completed, the first phase of the 800-meter berth is also in its final stage, with 720 metres completed so far.
