Karaikal Port Private Ltd has expedited work on mechanisation of coal-handling through a fully-automated conveyor belt at the cost of Rs 600 crore and it would be completed within two months, a top port official said.
Speaking to reporters here, Chairman and Managing Director of the port G R K Reddy said more than 300 technicians were now working on the mechanisation and the work would be completed within 60 days.
He said the six-km long conveyor belt would take the coal directly to wagons for inland transit from ships thereby preventing coal particles from flowing into the air.
Locals have staged protests complaining about environment pollution caused by the present manual handling of coal.
Reddy said the port was directed by the Puducherry pollution control committee to install the belt system to minimise pollution.
The port, which was commissioned in 2009, was committed to protecting the environment, and would soon become an environment-friendly port, he added.
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