BJD MLA criticises Orissa on port policy

BHUBANESWAR: Former minister and BJD MLA Damodar Rout today criticised the Orissa government for going ahead with different port projects along the coast without undertaking proper feasibility study."The state government is entering into illegal agreement with the port developers without undertaking proper feasibility study," said Rout during Question Hour in the assembly.Rout's reaction came in response to the Commerce and Transport minister Sanjib Sahoo's reply on uncertainty over establishment of a port at Barunai river mouth close to Gahirmatha Beach, the world famous nesting site of Olive Ridley Turtles.The state government's proposal to set up a port at Barunai river mouth in Kendrapara district, had faced green hurdle, the minister said adding that at least five investors including the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal had evinced interest on the project.Other companies who desired to establish port at Barunai river mouth were: Adhunik Metaliks, SPI Ports Private Limited, Sikal Logistics Limited and Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone Limited, the minister said.Rout, however, blamed the minister for holding negotiations over the proposed minor port at Barunai without conducting proper feasibility study."Everybody knows that a port cannot be set up in the area dominated by turtles, crocodiles and mangrove forests.Despite knowing this, how can the minister hold talks with private investors for the proposed project," Rout pointed out.Meanwhile, replying to another question, Sahoo said that the state government had put two of its proposed port projects at Inchudi and Chandipur in Balasore district, on hold due to opposition from the Defense ministry.He said besides two major ports at Dhamra and Gopalpur, the state government had signed MoU with separate companies for setting up three ports at Subernarekha river mouth in Balasore district, Chudamani in Bhadra district and Astrang in Puri district.This apart, Posco-India had also got clearance from the Centre for setting up another captive port at Jatadhar mouth in Jagatsinghpur district.