'Rectify shortcomings Bedi highlighted in port devp project'

The Estimates Committee of the Puducherry Assembly today requested the territorial government to take immediate steps to rectify shortcomings in the port development project highlighted by Lt Governor Kiran Bedi.
Chairman of the eight member committee A Anbalagan, MLA, said in a release here that the Committee inspected the work now underway in the port today.
The port development was taken up following an agreement the government had inked with the Union Shipping Ministry and is fulfilling the expectation of the people for a long time.
He said works had been intensified to ensure the port development and there would be cargo import from Chennai port for onward movement to other pockets from here.

Anbalagan suggested that the government post a full time Port Director and take steps to remove accumulated sewage and silt at the estuary without disturbing the environment.
The departments of PWD, Local Administration, Fisheries and Tourism should jointly take up the work to desilt the estuary and treat the sewage water.

He said the Lt Governor had already focused the various shortcomings that were needed to be rectified and this should be strictly addressed without delay.
However the 'Lt Governor should not also attempt to block the port development", the EC chairman said.
Anbalagan said the Committee was of the view that the Lt Governor should function in coordination with the government to launch the port development.