Expansion of Visakhapatnam Port opposed.

Visakhapatnam Port Trust was at the receiving end with the pollution sufferers pouring out their woes due to open handling of coal and iron ore at an environmental public hearing to take up expansion and dredging works investing Rs. 2,500 crore.

Tactful handling by the authorities prevented an attempt by the CPI and other activists from disrupting the proceedings. Joint Collector J. Nivas, who chaired the hearing in the port area, allowed the stakeholders to speak from their place without having to go to the podium. He said that he would submit a report to the Government based on the deliberations.

In his response, Port Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu said that they would invest nearly Rs.200 crore in the next three to four years to make Visakhapatnam Port a `green port' by removing the ‘dirty’ port tag within five years.

He said that they were not trying to handle more by increasing their capacity as their main thrust was to prevent pollution by handling cargo in mechanised environment, regulating truck movement and developing single stacking area. He said that they would appoint an international consultant shortly to suggest measures to put pollution at bare minimum by implementing best practices followed by Sanghai and other leading ports.

Attacking the port for repeatedly endangering the health of Vizagites due to spread of dust particles, Chaitanya Sravanti president Shirin Rahman said that the EIA report prepared by Wapco Ltd. and data provided by A.P. Pollution Control Board did not tally with the extent of pollution caused by the port.

She also said that the EIA report had failed to spell out the risks involved due to expansion of container terminal and mechanisation of Ore Handling Complex and few other ports.

THE HINDU