Shipyard, oil rig project at Dhamra to start from January

Bhubaneswar: The construction work for the Rs 3100 crore shipyard and the oilrig project of Oceanic Shipyard (OSL), a joint venture between Bharti Shipyard and Apeejay Surrendra group, at Dhamra in Bhadrakh district of Orissa will start from January next year.

Both the shipyard and oil rig projects will be set up in three phases. The proposal for shipyard and ship repairing unit, estimated to cost about Rs 2200 crore was cleared by the High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) of the Orissa government headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik in June this year.

Similarly, the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) has approved the Rs 900 crore oilrig project of the same promoters recently and sent the proposal for the approval of HLCA. The land acquisition for the shipyard unit, which will require 1050 acres of land, is in progress with the issue of notification under section 6(1) of the land acquisition act.

The promoters had sought 864 acres of land to the north of Dhamara port for the oilrig manufacturing unit. However, it has run into rough weather with the Dhamara Port Company Limited (DPCL) opposing the move. DPCL feels that handing over this patch of land to the oilrig project will seal the future expansion of Dhamara port. Besides, the underground cable laid by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) connecting the Wheeler Island with the mainland is another irritant for acquisition of this patch of land.

Karan Paul, chairman, Apeejay Surrendra group and Vijay Kumar, managing director, Bharati Shipyard, met the chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday and discussed about contentious issues including land acquisition and other approvals for the project. Patnaik, during the discussion emphasised on expediting these projects as both the units are employment intensive. It was decided that expeditious measures will be taken to resolve the outstanding issues.

The industry secretary and the commrce and transport (C&T) secretary will convene a meeting of DPCL and OSL to resolve the land issue. Similarly, the commerce and transport secretary will meet the chief scientist of DRDO and hold discussion regarding the shifting of the underground cable. Principal secretary to the chief minister B K Patnaik, industry secretary A P Padhi and C&T secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra were present during the discussion.