Study report on Posco port awaited

Bhubaneswar, Apr 10 (UNI) The decision concerning South Korean steel major Posco's request for an exclusive port near Paradip is likely to be delayed with both the Centre and the Orissa government opting for a detailed report on the proposal.

Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) had been entrested to study and examine the environmental and technical aspects of the port proposal, Chairman of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) K Raghuramaiah told newsmen here, saying the CWPRS was expected to submit its report within a month.

''The impact of littoral drift on the Paradip port if another port came up nearby on the same coast required to be examined carefully before the decision was taken, '' he said.

The PPT Chairman said Paradip had been experiencing erosion of the coast on the northern side and accretion on the southern side.

'' The main issue is how the nature is going to behave if another port comes up, '' he pointed out.

Billed as the biggest FDI project, Posco has plans to set up a 12-million tonne steel plant near Paradip with an invvestment of Rs 51,000 crore along with a captive port near Jatadhari - some six km south of the existing Paradip port.

To a question, Mr Raghuraimah said PPT will be happy if the Posco project comes up near paradip. '' We welcome it, '' he said.

UNI XC SJC SBJ GC1951