CPI opposes building of port near Pulicat Lake in AP

CPI today asked the government not to go ahead with a proposal to build a major port near the Pulicat lake in Andhra Pradesh, saying it was an eco-fragile area and close to the Sriharikota rocket launching station.
"The Union government has proposed to construct a major port at Ramayapatnam of Prakasham district. But suddenly the government is proposing to shift this port to Durgarajapatnam under some pressure," party General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
While about 42,000 fishermen would "lose their livelihood" in case the project comes up, lakhs of migratory birds would also lose their seasonal shelter at the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, which covers an area of 172 sq kms. A part of this sanctuary was in Tamil Nadu too, he said.

Reddy also asked the Centre not to "ignore objections" raised by the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) at Sriharikota, a highly sensitive institution, regarding the establishment of major port near Pulicat lake.
"In view of all this, we urge upon you to withdraw the proposal of establishing major port at Durgarajapatnam in Nellore District," Reddy said in the letter.