Environment study on Vallarpadam terminal

Kochi, Aug 11: The expert study on the environmental aspects of the main international container transshipment terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam here is expected to be completed by next month and will be forwarded to the union enviroment and forests ministry.

A Cochin Port Trust (CPT) spokesman said here today that the CPT had appointed the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, to study the hydrological impact of various proposed constructions and deepening of the channels.

The Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the National Institute of Oceanography are also involved in these studies.

The study by CWPRS and BARC will continue during the monsoon season, as the impact of monsoon winds, waves and hydrodynamics form part of the study. It is expected that the study report will be available by the middle of September, after which the data would be furnished to the union environment and forests ministry, the CPT spokesman said.

Allaying fears of any delay in the execution of the project, the foundation stone for which was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year and which is to be commissioned by 2009, the CPT said that the various steps required for the timely completion of the project were being taken by the Cochin Port Trust as per pre-planned schedules and there was no reason for concern.

The union ministry of environment and forests had already accorded environmental clearance for the construction of the four- lane highway connectivity project between Vallarpadam and Kalamassery. As for the rail connectivity, the environmental clearance is being directly handled by the railway board and the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL).

As for the environmental clearance for the main terminal facilities and deepening of the channels, the Cochin Port Trust had applied for the clearances from union environment and forests ministry.

Based on the issues raised during the hearing of the expert committee on environment for infrastructure projects which discussed the case, the union ministry had asked the Cochin Port Trust in February this year for a range of information and study reports for considering the case.

These issues were being studied by the CWPRS and BARC.

UNI