Work on transloading point at Kanika sands apace

It will facilitate supply of imported coal to the NTPC’s Farakaa super thermal power project and other prospective users of the supply chain

August 01, 2014 11:52 pm | Updated 11:52 pm IST - NEW DELHI:

Dredging in progress at ship movement channels of Paradip Port. Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari’s directives to operationalise Kanika sands transhipment zone will immediately benefit the Kolkata Port Trust, Paradip Port and others. File Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

Dredging in progress at ship movement channels of Paradip Port. Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari’s directives to operationalise Kanika sands transhipment zone will immediately benefit the Kolkata Port Trust, Paradip Port and others. File Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

The Shipping Ministry has announced that it is accelerating work on a crucial transhipment point on Orissa’s east coast, which will facilitate quick transportation of raw materials to a mega National Thermal Power Corporation plant besides other facilities.

The transloading point will be set up at the controversial Kanika sands, close to Dhamra river, where the endangered sea turtles feed and breed every winter.

The area has seen heightened activity after the National Democratic Alliance won the polls on May 16. A day later, the Adani group announced the buying up of Dhamra port from the co-owners the Tatas and L & T.

Ideal location

This port advertises itself as an ideal location as it is situated between the main land and Kanika Sands.

A range of ports, including Paradip, Kolkata and Dhamra, will benefit with the operationlisation of Kanika Sands as a transhipment point.

There has been some anxiety on the part of Adanis, which has forced the Shipping Ministry to take additional interest in the issue, said an official. He pointed out that while taking over the Dhamra port, the fast emerging corporate group had announced a time line for increasing the handling capacity to 100 million tonnes annually over the next six years.

One such timeline was to begin the second phase of development within 90 days. This deadline will expire on August 17, he explained.

But not all are pleased with the Shipping Ministry’s heightened interest in Kanika Sands, which is also close to a national park. “Setting up a trans-loading point will pose a huge threat to the local marine fauna. It appears that the State Government and the Shipping Ministry have not examined the likely environmental impact of allowing trans-shipment operations at Kanika sands,” according to a letter by environmentalist Biswajit Mohanty to the Environment Ministry.

Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari’s directives to operationalise Kanika sands transhipment zone will immediately benefit the Kolkata Port Trust, Paradip Port, the Odisha Government and ‘others’, said an official release.

It will also facilitate supply of imported coal to the NTPC’s Farakaa super thermal power (STP) project and other prospective users of the supply chain. The 2,100-MW Farakka STP was to get coal from Rajmahal coal fields but irregular supplies had forced it to switch to transportation by barges.

End user to benefit

“All such cost saving will ultimately be passed on to the end user. Such Transhipment zones can reduce the cost of imported or exported goods, resulting in significant savings to the industry and the exchequer. With the cost being reduced, more cargo will be diverted to these ports, thus, bringing additional revenue to the exchequer,’’ said the Ministry.

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