Ombudsman at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Scot T. Adams, visited Vizhinjam on Monday to take an on-the-spot assessment of the controversy surrounding the proposed port and transshipment terminal.
IFC, a World Bank affiliate, is the lead transaction adviser for the project.
The visit follows objections raised by the tourism industry stakeholders based around Vizhinjam to the mega project. It was of the view that IFC had not exercised due diligence while studying the complex issues that had cropped up with respect to implementation of the project.
They are aggrieved over the likely impact of the project on their business interests. This had not been properly studied while making the cost-benefit analysis of the project, they alleged.
Adams listened to presentations made by representatives of the tourism trade and took out a tour of the coastal stretch of the shipping channel of the proposed port.
Answering questions from the media, he said he would meet the complainants and the stakeholder groups. He was scheduled to meet K. Babu, ports minister.