KCZMA nod to yard at Vizhinjam

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala coastal zone management authority (KCZMA) has decided to issue clearance to the temporary barge load-out facility along with transit stock yard which was conceived for the storage and transportation of rocks to Vizhinjam for constructing breakwater.
The project had been red-flagged by KCZMA following a writ petition filed at the high court against the construction of the load-out facility without obtaining prior CRZ clearance. KCZMA in its latest meeting held in June also reversed its earlier decision to recommend the application for CRZ clearance to ministry of environment, forests and climate change and to issue the clearance at state-level authority itself.
When KCZMA issued a stop memo to Adani Vizhinjam port private limited (AVPPL), chief engineer (department of harbour engineering) told member secretary of KCZMA that the construction was carried out before getting CRZ clearance to avoid casualties of fishermen.
Over the last couple of monsoons, fishing boats get into trouble in the approach channel of the harbour and sink. The chief engineer also recalled the final detailed project report of Vizhinjam international seaport and said it was planned to transport stones from Muthalapozhy to Vizhinjam through sea for which detailed environmental impact assessment studies were carried out by Vizhinjam international seaport limited and clearance for environmental impact assessment was given. He said the proposal for load-out facility was approved at the time of EIA clearance given to Vizhinjam port project.
In the meeting held in June, KCZMA members didn’t raise any objection over issuing clearance for the project although the same committee had decided to recommend the proposal to MoEF & CC to obtain clearance and to issue a show-cause notice to harbour engineering department for constructing road and jetty without obtaining prior clearance from the authority by invoking section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
The CRZ clearance for the project is expected to give a major thrust for transporting rocks for Vizhinjam breakwater project. It involves a barge-loading platform measuring 65x15m with two approach trestles, mooring blocks, loading ramps and transit stockyards for rocks. Existing channel will be used for barge movement.
There will be two loading ramps and rock storage area. The structural built-up area would be 1,500 sqm and the total area including all the facilities including internal roads and storage yards would be 9.3 Ha. The project is being proposed at a cost of Rs 4.95 crore.