693 acres given, S’rekha port work to begin soon

A total of 692.68 acres of land has been leased out to the Subarnarekha Port Private Limited (SPPL) and the company has been asked to start construction work for the proposed port at Subarnarekha river mouth in Baleswar district at soon as possible.

Similarly, alienation of Government land to the Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd for establishment of port at Astaranga in Puri district is going on and steps are being taken to conduct required studies for availing environment clearance and permissions from the National Highway Authority of India and the Railways.

Commerce Minister Dr Nrusingha Charan Sahu informed all these in the State Assembly in response to a question of Congress MLA Chiranjibi Biswal. The Minister stated that land was given to the SPPL on January 29, 2018 after environment and Defence clearance were availed for the proposed port. Relating to Astaranga Port, the Minister said acquisition of private lands have now been stopped as the High Court has issued a stay order on the 4(1) notification of seven villages. After disposal of the case, steps would be taken for acquisition of land, the Minister said. Stating that 14 places were identified for establishment of ports, the Minister said two ports, one at Gopalpur in Ganjam district and second at Dhamra in Bhadrak district, have already begun operations.

The Minister further informed that a bidding process has been initiated for constructiofn of a river-based port in Mahanadi at Akhadasaji under Mahakalapada block  in Kendrapada district. Regarding the proposed port at Jatadhari mouth, the Minister said the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) discussed o the proposal on March 22, 2018 and asked the Commerce and Transport Department to examine the company’s captive jetty proposal. After reports of reports from the department, further steps would be taken.