Port projects: Govt asks DMs for support

The State Government has asked the district authorities to extend all support for the ports coming up in the coastal zones of the State as the major investors are in a hurry.

Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi held a two-day long marathon videoconference with the district Collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Bhadrak and Baleswar regarding .

While Gopalpur Port has come up in Ganjam, a major port project is being executed at Astaranga in Puri, Subarnarekha Port will come up in Baleswar, while Dhamra port in Bhadrak is on an expansion mode.

Chief Secretary Padhi urged the Ganjam district administration to extend support for the promoter of Gopalpur Port as they are eager to complete the project in a time bound manner.

Gopalpur Port Limited (GPL) is taking steps for construction of fishing jetty, groynes, dredging of old channel and beach nourishment activities in consultation with the district administration.

However due to law and order problems, the promoters are facing a tough time. So they are needed to be extended support by the authorities so that they will complete the project in time.

While a major port is coming up at Astaranga, litigations are hindering the progress, so the Chief Secretary asked the authorities to take up the case matter with the court and expeditious steps need to be taken for hearing and disposal of the case.

It was decided that alienation of Government land for the port and service corridor need to be expedited by the district authorities.

The promoter was to speed up formal approval from National Highway Authority of India and East Coast Railways for both rail and road connectivity.

Subarnarekha Port authorities have been provided 692 acre of land and they were asked to go ahead with construction as requisite approvals are in place.

However authorities are asking for 268 acre of land and accordingly, the Baleswar Collector was asked to take appropriate steps for making land available for the port.

Agriculture Production Commissioner Gagan Kumar Dhal, Commerce and Transport Secretary G Srinivas, Commerce and Transport Special Secretary Manoj Kumar Mishra, Collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Bhadrak and Baleswar participated in the discussion. All the representatives from these ports were in attendance.