Construction of Ponnani port to be delayed
The proposed cargo port in Ponnani is likely to be delayed by another six months.Construction can start only after the ministry of environment conducts an environmental impact study during the monsoon, TNN reports.
The project has already received administrative and technical sanctions from the government.
Ponnani port officer A V Kuriakose said the ministry had already informed the port office about the environmental impact study.
The government signed an agreement last September with Malabar Ports Private Ltd (MPPL) for the construction of the initial phase of the port at an estimated cost of Rs 763 crore. The total project cost is more than Rs 2,000 crore.
According to the agreement, Malabar Ports will pay royalty of 2.75% to the state during the first 15 years and 4.5% in the next 15 years. It authorizes the MPPL to develop and operate the port for 30 years. The deal was signed in the presence of the then port minister K Babu.
The proposed all-weather port is expected to speed up the all-round development of Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur, and also prop up the Coimbatore-Palakkad industrial belt.
The port will have both rail and road connectivity between Thirunnavaya and Ponnani for the movement of cargo to hinterlands.
The proposed port will be the first in Kerala to be constructed through Pubic Private Partnership (PPP) as well as the first to complete its tender processes according to the Swiss Challenge method. It will also be first port in India to be developed by reclaiming land from the sea.
Malappuram: The work of the Cargo Port Project, Ponnani likely to be delayed further six months, as the ministry of environment going to conduct a detailed study also on the environmental impact of the proposed project during monsoon.
Earlier it was expected that the ministry will grant sanction for the project by May first week and the work of the port can be commenced by May end. However a recent communication from the ministry informed the Port Office that the study team will conduct a detailed study also during monsoon months, and the final decision regarding the approval, would be taken after that.
The Port officer, Ponnani, A V Kuriakkose told TOI that the ministry has already informed the port office that the study would be extended to monsoon season as the environmental impacts of the project during monsoon also to be studied. 'The construction works can be started only after monsoon months', he said.
The State government, signed an agreement with Malabar Ports Private Ltd. (MPPL) for construction of the port at an estimated outlay of Rs.763 crore, for the initial phase, in last September. Acording to the pact the Malabar Ports will pay royalty of 2.75% to the state during the first 15 years and 4.5% in the next 15 years. The total estimated cost of port project is more than 2000 crore. The agreement, which authorises the MPPL to develop and operate the port for 30 years on the basis of some specific conditions, was signed in the presence of the then Ports Minister K. Babu, who hoped to secure environment clearance for the port at the earliest. The project has already received the administrative sanction and technical sanction form the government. But the sancton of the project by Environment ministry being delayed due to various reasons.
The port is proposed to be developed as an all-weather port and it is expected that when fully operational, it is expected to speed up all-round development in the Malabar region and act as a big stimulus to the proposed Coimbatore-Palakkad industrial belt. The port will have both rail and road connectivity between Thirunnavaya and Ponnani, for the easy movement of cargo to hinterland destinations. The Port is first in Kerala to be taken up the development works through Pubic Private Partnership(PPP).
It is considered as the port would be the first port in India to be developed by reclaiming land from the sea, and the first port to complete its tender processes according to the Swiss Challenge method.