Panel recommends green clearance to LPG import terminal

A high-powered Environment Ministry panel has recommended green clearance to build Kerala's much-talked about LPG import terminal at Puthuvypeen near here.
Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for projects related to Infrastructure Development, Coastal Regulation Zone, Building/Construction and Miscellaneous, which met at Environment Ministry headquarters in New Delhi recently, has recommended construction of Multi-User Liquid Terminal (MULT) in the Puthuvypeen SEZ, for handling LPG, bunker fuel and other POL cargo, official sources told PTI.
The Rs 217.33 crore project is being developed under the supervision of Cochin Port Trust on behalf of Indian Oil Corporation and is expected to be completed within two years.

Officials said the project is of tremendous importance to Kerala Government in the backdrop of major road accidents in the past involving LPG bullet tankers. The proposed terminal can reduce road haulage of LPG through Kerala.
The location has been selected keeping in view of the potential for future development, safety aspects, convenience for operation and special benefits that will be available in a SEZ area, they said.
EAC after detailed deliberations recommended the proposal with certain specific conditions like there shall be no destruction of mangrove at the west and north of the proposed MULT site during the construction as well as the operational phase.

"The dredged material shall be conveyed and disposed off in the specified dumping area -- two dumping areas are one on south and the other on the north of approach channel.

"The chemical and biological characteristics of marine water quality should be monitored at regular intervals during construction and operation phase of the project. Monitoring shall conform to norms prescribed by the concerned State Pollution Control Board," according to official document.
The Cochin Port Trust in July this year had awarded the work of the jetty for super gas tankers to a private firm based in Vishakhapatnam. The MULT is to facilitate mainly the import of LPG by Indian Oil Corporation which will do away with the present method of import through Mangaluru Port and supply to various destinations in Kerala by long road haulage.

The work consists of construction of a terminal having a 230 meters long berth for handling LPG and petroleum products for Rs 182.76 crore and a barge berth for handling bunkers for Rs 34.57 crore.