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.
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 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.