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The State Government would not allow anyone to wreck the Vizhinjam port and transshipment container terminal project, says K. Babu, Minister for Ports.
A section of tourist resorts is trying to derail the project at a crucial time when the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study is over and public hearing is due, he said.
ALL-PARTY MEET
The Minister said this while speaking to newspersons after an all-party meeting here on Thursday to drum up support for the long-delayed project.
Significantly, he noted that opinion of the ombudsman for project advisers, International Finance Corporation, on the EIA would not be binding on the State Government.
The ombudsman is expected to visit the State, acting on a petition filed by a resort owner and a group of activists who had alleged that the EIA study had failed to consider concerns of the fishing community and the hotel business.
“As far as the government is concerned, it is the EIA Notification 2006 that matters. We are, however, trying to convince the ombudsman of the ground realities,” Babu said.
Referring to protests from the tourism lobby, he said the Vizhinjam port project assumed primacy to the government over the future of two or three tourist resorts.
READY TO ACQUIRE
He also expressed the government’s will to acquire resorts located in the vicinity of the breakwater if that land is needed for the project.
He would also recommend an inquiry by the department of environment into alleged encroachments in the Vizhinjam area.
The project would not affect the tourism or fisheries sector. In fact, the latter will only benefit from the proposed cruise terminal and fishing harbour.
The Minister expected to see the draft EIA report published and forwarded for public hearing by December.
FRESH BIDS
Fresh bids would be invited for the operator of the project once the environmental clearance is given, he added.
A third tender for the project had ended in a deadlock after only one bidder qualified.
The government decided against pursuing the bid for fear of breaking rules and setting a precedent.
The Minister said that the State Government has represented the Centre for grant of exemption of the port and terminal from Cabotage law.
“We hope to get better bids, once the project secures environmental clearance and gets the exemption,” Babu said.
> vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in
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