The Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd. (AVPPL), the private multi-port operator tasked with building and operating the upcoming International Multipurpose Deepwater Seaport at Vizhinjam, has till date not sought extension for the completion of the Phase I.
“In Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, there is no room for granting extension for completion. No communication from AVPPL seeking extension for the completion of the first phase of the project nor the crucial 3.1-km breakwater is before the government nor it has come up in the recent meeting convened by the Minister for Ports,” official sources told The Hindu .
The 16-month extension sought by the AVPPL for the completion of the project in the wake of the Cyclone Ockhi in November 2017 was earlier rejected by the independent engineer, sources said.
The government is concerned about the ‘smokescreen’ being created as the AVPPL has missed the 1,000-day deadline set by it to complete the first phase and chances of completing the first phase in December 2019 are remote.
Adani Group chairman Gautam S. Adani had announced September 1, 2018, as the target after the pact was signed with the government in August 2015.
Delay
Any delay for the completion of the 40-year PPP ‘dream project’ of the State will affect the AVPPL badly as it will reduce the revenue earning from the seaport, sources said.
Only 40% of dredging and reclamation and 10% of the critical breakwater in physical volume had been completed by the AVPPL.
“With the current pace of 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes of granite daily being sourced locally and 6,000 tonnes weekly from Tuticorin, it will take three to four years for the completion of the breakwater. Another 60 lakh tonnes of granite is needed and only 600 metres of the 3.1-km breakwater had been completed,” sources said.
Pointing out that sourcing granite is the responsibility of the AVPPL, sources said the dependence on the local suppliers in the district instead of managing one or two granite quarries on their own had led to the present problems.
The AVPPL had put in the application for the revenue land quarrying only in April 2018.
“Environment clearance had been given for the Kadavila quarry and the government has given directives to all concerned to transport quarry to the site without any hindrance,” sources added.
Granite needed
“The State government has been told that more barges will reach the site and steps have been taken to use the sea route to transport granite. The remaining 2.5-km critical portion of the breakwater is in deepwater zone that ranges from 16 to 20 metres. As much as 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of granite is daily needed even for completing the breakwater in the later half of 2020,” sources said.
