The revised report of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study for the international seaport project at Vizhinjam has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, taking the project a step closer to reality.
Minister for Ports K. Babu said the submission of the 4,000-page report was the last procedure in the effort to secure environmental clearance for the project.
An official pressnote quoting him said 700 people had participated in the public hearing on the EIA report held on June 29.
Proposals
“The Ministry received 236 memoranda on various issues, including technical grounds. These petitions and proposals were considered in preparing the revised report.”
Mr. Babu said no other project in the country had received so much response from the public.
Comprehensive
“The revised report was prepared comprehensively over a period of two months, with due consideration for all the proposals and complaints.”
The Ministry has to take a decision on the report within 105 days. Mr. Babu said the government expected the 15-member expert appraisal committee to take a favourable decision on the final clearance for the project.
