Rs 25 Crore for NH-widening

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K M Mani on Thursday announced Rs 25 crore for going ahead with land acquisition works in connection with the widening of the vexatious Karamana-Kalayikkavila stretch of the National Highway (NH).The announcement came in the Assembly during a discussion on the State budget for the 2012-13 fiscal.The Finance Minister also announced an additional Rs 5 crore for the Attukal Township project. He pointed out that the Government had sanctioned Rs 12 crore for undertaking infrastructure works ahead of this year’s Pongala festival.For undertaking preliminary works on the proposed fisheries harbour at Valiyathura, Mani earmarked Rs 25 lakh.Vizhinjam: State to Approach MoEF by SeptemberThe State Government hopes to approach the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) by September this year for environmental clearance for the multi-crore Vizhinjam deepwater international container terminal project, Ports Minister K Babu told the Assembly on Thursday.The environmental impact assessment (EIA), a one-year-long process, is on and is expected to be completed by June 30 this year. Public hearings on the same will be held in August, before the State Government submits its application to the Centre.The EIA began in July 2011. Asian Consulting Engineers is conducting the EIA for project consultants International Finance Corporation and L&T Ramboll is conducting the EIA for road and rail connectivity for Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), the Government firm overseeing the project. The EIA will cost the State Government Rs 60.75 lakh and the modelling and study on shoreline changes will cost Rs 26 lakh.