The Shipping Ministry is convinced of the need for transloading operations at Kanika Sands, an island off the Orissa coast.

“This is unavoidable in national interest”, observe the Ministry sources.

“The Kolkata Port Trust will undertake the operation at the Sandheads during the dry season and for four months, the monsoon months, the operation has to be shifted to a safer place, preferably Kanika Sands”, the sources observe.

State govt complaints

Referring to the complaints of the Orissa Government that the transloading operations by the KoPT at Kanika Sands would adversely affect some of the private ports due to come up in the vicinity, particularly Dhamra port, which is almost ready for commissioning, the sources said that the genuine problems of the private ports would be addressed by the Ministry.

“The Union Government is as much committed to the development of ports in Orissa as in other States”, the sources made it clear.

At a recent high-level meeting held in the Ministry, the Chief Secretary and the Transport Secretary of Orissa, had been told to submit in detail their apprehensions.

“Another meeting will be held in next month to discuss the issue”, the sources said.

PIL

It might be noted that a public interest litigation has been filed in the Orissa High Court against the proposed transloading at the Kanika Sands.

A spokesman for the KoPT said transloading was needed in national interest, particularly in the interest of eastern region. The pre-bid meeting for transloading due to be held in Delhi shortly would be postponed in view of the present development, he said.

A spokesman for Dhamra port declined to comment on the issue, saying it was being sorted out at a high level, between the Orissa Government and the Shipping Ministry.

Dhamra port was ready to start regular operation but could not do so as some agreements with the Railways were still to be signed, he added.

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