Kerala unhappy with Centre for clearing Colachel port

Kerala will raise with the Centre its concerns over the clearance given to Colachel Port in Tamil Nadu, which is just 25 km from the Vizhinjam port, Kerala Ports Minister Kadanapally Ramachandran said on Wednesday.

Talking to mediapersons in Kannur, Ramachandran said he would discuss the matter with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and will then "express displeasure" to the central government which gave the go-ahead to the Colachel port on Tuesday.

The Colachel port project had been pending for the last 17 years.

The minister said the Centre's decision was not fair.

"The distance between Vizhinjam port in Kerala and Colachel port in Tamil Nadu is just 25 kilometres. The general norm for such a mega project was not adhered to by the Centre while clearing Colachel," Ramachandran said.

"I will take up the issue with our Chief Minister and then will talk to the Centre about the way the Colachel port was sanctioned. It's not fair at all," he added.

Colachel port is expected to cost Rs 25,000 crore, with Phase 1 requiring Rs 6,575 crore.

Construction of the Vizhinjam port is going on in full swing. Built by the Adani Ports at a cost of Rs 7,525 crore, it will enable ships with a capacity of 18,000 TEU to dock.

--IANS

sg/bim/bg