Dhamra port’s first phase to be completed by April 2010

Mumbai: Dhamra Port, a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Steel and Larsen & Toubro, announced that the first phase of the project will be operational by April 2010 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,463 crore.

According to Mr Santosh Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer of Dhamra Port Company, more than 25 per cent of the work on the port situated north of river Dhamra at a place called Doshinga, has been completed.

Answering queries surrounding the environmental concerns, Mr Mohapatra said that the project has received all statutory clearances, including the environment clearance from the Government of India and a no-objection certificate from the Pollution Control Board of the Orissa State Government.

He added, “the clearance has been challenged before the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) on certain grounds, including the port’s effect on Olive Ridley turtles and the NEAA after a visit to the site has upheld the clearance with a clear finding that the place being muddy and full of silt is unsuitable for turtle nesting.”

There are also concerns that the displacement of mud on account of dredging will destroy the food chain supply of the turtles and other marine life around the port area.

However, Mr Mohapatra said that the developers have taken adequate precautions for that as well. “We are also seeking consultation from International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN on the issue.”

The world’s premier scientific body for conservation of wildlife has been helping the port to adopt appropriate dredging methods and lighting manuals, he said.

In the first phase, Dhamra port will have the capacity to handle 25 million tonnes of cargo, going up to 80 million tonnes as the project progresses.

Nearly Rs 600 crore has already been invested in the port and going forward, the company willadd berths leading to 13 berths eventually.

The port will have a 18-km long channel and a draught of 18 metres capable of handling super cape-size vessels of 1,80,000 DWT.

The port will also have a 62-km long rail track in the first phase from Dhamra to Bhadrak on the main Howrah Chennai line.