Minister slams PPT authorities

Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and the state's agriculture minister Damodar Rout has accused the Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) authorities of tarnishing the image of the port.

He also demanded a CBI probe into the alleged administrative lapses and large scale irregularities of PPT which led to the sinking of the Mongolian vessel Black Rose near Paradeep.

Holding the PPT authorities responsible for sinking of the vessel, Rout questioned as to how it was allowed to enter the port without valid documents.

He suspected the role of deputy conservator, traffic manager and other officials of PPT and alleged that the PPT authorities were using the port as their own fiefdom.

The minister was addressing a mass rally and agitation organized by the Bhumiputra Multipurpose Cooperative Limited (BMCL) in front of PPT's administrative building on Thursday to highlight pollution in the port area arising out of oil spill from the sunken vessel and seek CBI probe into the incident.

He criticized the PPT authorities for the discrimination in their assistance towards the flood victims of Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

“PPT spent Rs four crore for the flood victims of Tamil Nadu but spent only Rs 40 lakh for the flood victims of Orissa. This injustice of the port trust against the people of Orissa will not be tolerated”, Rout said.

Speaking on the occasion, Sankhanada Behera, president, BMCL said, “The pollution from the sunken vessel has affected the aquatic life including the rare Olive Ridley Turtles. The sunken vessel has blocked movement of sand on the beach that would subsequently squeeze the shore’s space in Gahirmatha affecting mass nesting of turtles.”