State seeks environmental nod for Gopalpur port

Following the recommendation of the Orissa State Coastal Zone Management Authority (OSCZMA), the state government has requested the Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) to grant environmental clearance to Gopalpur port.

Though the expert committee of the MoEF had recommended the project for issue of environmental clearance, the formal clearance was pending due to the absence of the recommendation by OSCZMA.

Sources said, the state forest and environment department has recommended the case of GPL with some conditions like restricting illumination from ship and light house during December-January, when thousands of Olive Ridley turtles throng the Orissa coast to lay eggs. The wildlife experts of the Government of India (GoI) have also opined that the port project will not affect the movement of turtles in the Rushikulya rive mouth.

The Orissa government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gopalpur Port Ltd (GPL) in 2006. A consortium led by Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) and Sara International Ltd (SIL) commenced the operation of the seasonal port within 3 months of the handover of the property by the state government.

While the detailed project report (DPR) for expansion of the port has been submitted, the company has completed the required techno-feasibility study for converting the anchorage port to an all weather port. Besides, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study and the public hearing for the project have been completed, said the state minister for commerce and transport, Sanjeev Sahoo.

GPL has indicated that it will complete the project within 24 months from the date of getting the environmental clearance. While the total investment in the port project is envisaged to be Rs 1250 crore, the company has already invested more than Rs 130 crore. The project will have a debt-equity ratio of 70:30. The company is in talks with banks and financial institutions and the financial closure is expected to be achieved immediately after the environmental clearance and handover of additional land for the project. During a recent meeting of the port authorities with the commerce and transport minister, the government was urged to expedite measures to transfer 1200 acres of land which was previously occupied by the Indian Rare Earth Ltd. (IREL).

Sources said, the all weather port is expected to be ready by 2012 and it will be able to handle 20 million tonne per annum cargo. GPL targets to handle 1 million tonne cargo in the current season starting from this month. Once the all weather port is operational, this is likely to ease the heavy congetion at Paradeep and will fill the gap between Vishakhapatnam and Paradeep port.