Consultant to study ship-breaking industry at Kakinada

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to appoint a technical consultant firm to evaluate the possible impact of setting up the proposed ship breaking industry at Kakinada coast in East Godavari district.

The National Ship Design and Research Centre (NSDRC) of Vizag is likely to be appointed to take up the study. According to sources, the consultant firm has to submit its report within a period of one month.

The decision comes in the wake of contradictory opinions expressed by the reports of three senior IAS officers, who were deputed to examine on whether the ship breaking industry should be allowed to be set up at Kakinada. The state government's move was due to local protests against allowing the industry on Kakinada seacoast.

Some local organisations have been arguing that the industry will pose a serious threat to the environment that could result in the elimination of marine life in that area, rendering scores of fishermen jobless.

The protests were followed by the visit of this area by a business team from Gujarat of which requested the government to allow them to set up ship breaking units near Kakinada.

State officials estimate the potentiality of the ship breaking industry at Kakinada with an annual turnover close to Rs 200 crore if allowed.

It is said that owing to several factors the ship breaking firms of Gujarat are looking for an alternate location for their business and Kakinada is said to be ideally suited to the industry.