Ch. R. S. Sarma
WORK APACE at Gangavaram port.
The row that erupted in recent months over the construction of the Gangavaram port, and the consequent displacement (and rehabilitation) of fishermen, has subsided and peace is returning to the fishing village of Gangavaram.
The fishermen have agreed to the revised rehabilitation package announced by the Government and the stage is set for shifting the boats to Yarada. They have given up the demand for construction of a jetty in the vicinity of the village at Nallamarammapatalu.
Construction work at the port site is progressing at a brisk pace. The first phase of the project may be ready by December 2007, as scheduled, and there may not be further delay, as apprehended initially.
In fact, though a few days were lost, there was not much disruption of work and even the prolonged dry spell in June helped the cause.
Logistical advantage
Now that the dust has settled and there are no hurdles to the port project, it is hoped that the project will be completed as per schedule.
There is no doubt that the Gangavaram port, situated close to the Visakhapatnam Steel plant, will be of logistical advantage to the plant and other industries coming up in the region.
The steel plant, in particular, will be benefited, as the port, with a depth of 21 metres, will facilitate the berthing of larger vessels, resulting in considerable freight reduction.
The master plan for the port envisages the construction of 29 berths, with a cargo handling capacity of 200 million tonnes, and the "cargo-handling will be fully mechanised in conformity with the best international standards,'' claim the port officials.
The consortium, headed by Mr D. V. S. Raju, is constructing the port, with Integrax Berhad (Malaysia) as the technical partner. Earlier, the Dubai Port International was providing technical assistance for the project.
Notified area
Though the controversy over the port construction has subsided, there are still some issues engaging public attention. The Government's proposal to notify the area of the Gangavaram port (1,800 acres) and exclude it from the purview of the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation, is being debated.
There is opposition to the proposal not only from the political parties such as the CPM, which led the fishermen's agitation, but also from non-governmental organisations such as the Forum for Better Visakha.
In a letter to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary, Mr E. A. S. Sarma, former Energy Secretary and the forum co-ordinator, has said that the preferential treatment to the Gangavaram Port is not warranted.
According to Mr Sarma, "such a notification will deprive the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation of its legitimate share in the tax and non-tax revenues from the economic activity taking place within the territorial limits of the Gangavaram port."
"We, at the forum, are apprehensive of the Government's intentions in extending this special treatment to the Gangavaram Port and we are opposed to it," he said in the letter.
In the larger context of the Gangavaram port construction and development, however, the notification issue may be a minor one.
The State government, however, cannot afford to ignore the sentiments of the public as expressed by the forum, especially in the light of the controversy over the port construction.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/19/stories/2006061900130600.htm
