The Hindu Business Line : Technical panel discusses navigation along Eden Channel

Improving navigability
‘The navigation along the Eden Channel will yield several benefits’
The existing “impediments” in the channel have to be removed

Our Bureau

Kolkata, Oct. 8

The five-member Technical Advisory Committee, headed by Mr A.R. Rao, Development Adviser (Ports), Ministry of Shipping, met in Haldia on Wednesday and discussed the scope of navigability of the “Eden Channel” on the west of the existing Auckland channel in the Hooghly river.

This move may save the Haldia dock from increasing shoaling and siltation of the river. The channel started opening up, a natural process, from around 2007-08.

The committee also examined the reports in this regard submitted by Water and Power Consultancy Services, Central Water Power Research Station and Lanka Hydraulic Institute, Colombo.

The committee is yet to firm up its views, but according to some of its members, the navigation of vessels along the channel can be considered only after watching the behaviour of the channel for a few years as it has a tendency to shift rapidly.

“I’m yet to receive the report of the committee which is still to firm up its views in this regard,” Mr A. Majumdar, acting Chairman of Kolkata Port Trust, told Business Line.

The navigation along the Eden Channel, according to Mr Ramakanta Burman, Convenor of Save Haldia Dock Committee, will yield several benefits. The improvement of draft by two metres will enable each ship calling at the dock to carry an additional 10,000 tonnes of cargo and reduce the cost of maintenance dredging now amounting to Rs 400 crore annually.

Inquiries reveal that the navigation along the channel will take several years to start even if the channel is found to be “stable” after a few years. First, the existing “impediments” in the channel have to be removed. The removal, it is estimated, will cost Rs 30-40 crore. Which means, a scheme has to be prepared for approval by the Board of Trustees of Kolkata Port Trust.

Then the scheme will go to the Ministry for approval and, depending on the size of investment, approvals of higher authorities concerned might be needed. This is a time-consuming process.

The tenders have to be floated and suitable contractor has to be selected. Next, the mobilisation will take a full season. Finally, the work can be executed only in dry season.

The TAC meeting at Haldia was held at the insistence of Mr Mukul Roy, Union Minister of State for Shipping, and Mr Sisir Adhikary, Trinamul MP from the region, Mr Burman said. Both Mr Roy and Mr Adhikary visited Haldia dock on October 3 and held meetings with the officials of Kolkata Port Trust, he added.