Maritime Newsletter

Posers cloud berth proposals - 2010-07-05

Reports have it that the work on construction of two deep draught berths at Paradip port could not be started as clearances from the environment authorities are still to come. For one berth, the concession agreement was signed nearly a year ago and for the other about seven months ago. The delay, in addition to causing concern to the port authorities and private firms selected for executing the projects, raises several questions. Is it really necessary to have a fresh coastal area clearance when as many as 14 berths are already in operation in the same port? The proposed berths will be just two additions to the set-up. Next, what is the relevance of obtaining forest clearance when there is no forest within a radius of 100 km of the port? The old maps of the area might show forests some 100 year ago, but is it really relevant in today's context? Finally, do the environment authorities really take as much time when it comes to granting approvals for projects in a private port?Source: Business Line