Instead of building new ports, the authorities should focus on optimum utilisation of capacity of existing ports by improving connectivity and nourishing the beaches to prevent coastal erosion, according to Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) Chairman and Managing Director Capt. D.K. Mohanty.
Asked to comment on frequent coastal erosion on Visakhapatnam-Bhimili beachfront raising public concern, he told The Hindu on Saturday that the responsibility of nourishment lies with the ports. However, he said the ports were evading spending required amounts on nourishment as they considered it ‘non-productive.’
Capt. Mohanty said there was no point in taking up construction of 10 Greenfield ports in Odisha, 14 in Andhra Pradesh and 16 in Tamil Nadu without ensuring capacity utilisation of the existing ports.
“We don’t have a single port which handles 100 million tonne whereas Sanghai alone handles a throughput of 800 million tonne,” he stated calling for connectivity with inland waterways.
“In Mahabharata War five Pandavas trounced 100 Kaurava brothers because of their efficiency. Hence, I strongly feel the existing ports should improve their efficiency level with meticulous planning and the much-needed support infrastructure,” he said.
Several speakers at East Coast Maritime Business Summit, which concluded on Friday, expressed concern at the failure of existing ports in using full capacities and the proposals by several State governments to call for investments in new ports.
Bengal Tiger Lines Pte Ltd Managing Director Bill Smart, Dhamra Port Director Santosh K. Mohapatra, Krishnapatnam Container Terminal Director Vinita Venkatesh, Samsara Group MD Capt. G.K. Sarkari, Sravan Shipping MD G. Sambasiva Rao and J.M. Baxi Group Joint MD Vir. K. Kotak, at a CEO meet held as part of the summit, strongly pleaded for sorting out connectivity issues with regard to faster evacuation of cargo.
