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'Further port development only on BOT basis'

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE NOV. 16. The Minister for Cooperation and Ports, M.V. Raghavan, today said that further development of ports in the State was possible only on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. He was inaugurating the construction work for the 60-metre-long cargo wharf at the Beypore port, near here.

Referring to the criticism of ignoring Beypore port for the development Azhikkal port, the Minister observed that port development does not hinge on any person's liking. Ports that had a possibility for development will get a chance.

He also dismissed reports that the demand for the development of Vizhinjam container terminal had `slowed down' the development of Vallarpadam container terminal. "Vizhinjam is one of the few ports which had a depth of 25 metres, thus enabling any large ship to dock at the port. "But this does not dim the chances of Vallarpadam container terminal," he said.

Mr. Raghavan said that there was a court verdict in favour of returning the land of the Port Department leased out to the Steel Industries Limited, Kerala (SILK) back to the department three years ago, but it had not been handed over. Steps would be taken to get the land back, he added.

He said that the Port Department cannot hand over land for the proposed Coast Guard Station at Beypore. This was because handing over of Port Department land would adversely affect the development of the port. But the two acres with the Fisheries Department at Beypore would be made available for the station. V.K.C. Mammedkoya, MLA, presided.

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