Gangavaram port work likely to be delayed

Work on the Rs 1,800-crore Gangavaram port may be delayed by some more weeks due to continuous agitations by local fishermen and Opposition parties. The port management has planned to complete the first phase of works by December 2007.

The port has already appointed Dredging International of Belgium for dredging works, and engineering major Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for construction of breakwater and other civil works. But due to the agitation by the fishermen, both the companies are unable to execute the work. On Saturday, more than 300 agitators were arrested by police when they were planning to lay siege to the collectorate.

Ch Narsinga Rao, leader of Gangavaram Matsyakarula Aikya Vedika (GMAV), and district secretary of CPI (M), said the fishermen wanted a firm commitment from the government on the construction of a jetty at Nalammaramapatalu and a better rehabilitation package for 3,000 fishermen families.

Initially, the government proposed to set up a jetty at Yerada village, but the fishermen have opposed this as they feel it's far away from the existing Gangavaram village. After the police firing, the government has agreed to shift the jetty, but has not identified the place as yet. The fishermen are demanding that the jetty be set up at Nalammaramapatalu only.

However, the Gangavaram port management has expressed confidence to complete the project by December 2007. Port sources said that the government would soon resolve the problem amicably.

The state government has provided 2,800 acres of land to the Gangavaram port and will have an 11 per cent equity in the project. Of the total investment of about Rs 1,800 crore in the first phase, 13 banks led by the State Bank of India have recently agreed to lend Rs 1,170 crore. In the first phase, the port will have five berths, which can handle very large vessels. The management is expecting 8-10 million tonnes of cargo in the first year of operations.

Meanwhile, an all-party meeting was organised today in the presence of Commercial Tax minister Konatala Rama Krishna.

The GMAV leaders had decided to continue stopping the work from April 3.