An Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry has deferred Andhra Pradesh government’s proposal seeking clearance to prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) for its proposed ₹3,670-crore greenfield seaport, seeking more information.
According to the minutes of meeting of the EAC, the AP government was planning to develop the all-weather, deep water, multipurpose port at an estimated cost of ₹3,670 crore at Bhavanapadu in Srikakulam district.
The meeting of the EAC, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was held during the last week of September.
The EAC said the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB), the project proponent which submitted the application for the grant of ToR, however, made no description about an alternate site.
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A fishing harbour was located in close proximity to the proposed site and details regarding the distance between the two, the site’s capacity and other techno-economical details have not been provided, it observed.
“The site is falling in the zone of high erosion, therefore, before grant of ToR, a study should be conducted on the suitability of the site with respect to the high-erosion zone,” the EAC said.
“Accordingly, the EAC deferred the proposal for want of above-mentioned information,” it added.
The AP government contended the proposed project will have a positive impact on the social and economic development of the region by ensuring overall improvement in living standards through creation of new direct and indirect jobs and increase in volume of general trade.
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It will usher in general improvement in infrastructural facility with better transport and communication network, the state government said.
“It is estimated that this project will generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs,” the government’s proposal said.
The trees that will be felled at the project location will be relocated with necessary permission from the competent authority, the APMB said.
