Public hearing on Gangavaram port disrupted
Visakhapatnam, May 12 (INN): Police had to use force to control a section of project-affected people after they attacked the officials conducting a public hearing by the AP Pollution Control Board for the expansion of Gangavaram Port by a consortium 'Gangavaram Port Limited' on Thursday.
The police also took around 200 persons into custody after the public meeting was disrupted by the members of the fishing community. Trouble began when the officials refused to listen to their objections and decided to proceed with the public hearing on the expansion plans of Gangavaram port.
The public hearing was called as the fishermen and locals residents who have come together under the aegis of Forum for Better Visakha, Forum for Sustainable Development, some fishing community associations and political parties, are strongly opposed to the expansion plans of port.
The groups objected to the proposed construction of four more berths and other facilities with an investment of Rs 995 crore and demanded that the officials stop the public hearing. They alleged that the new berths would increase the pollution levels significantly in the surrounding villages.
Apart from this, the protestors alleged that fake police cases have been filed against them and demanded that the government immediately lift these fabricated cases. Another important demand was that the government provide alternative livelihood for the women.
The protestors said they were not averse to development since the port has already been established but the management should not continue its attitude of neglecting the traditional fishermen who have been displaced and not keeping making assurances on employment, etc.
They said that the government could go ahead and conduct the public hearing on the expansion plans after addressing all the rehabilitation issues. However, when the officials did not relent and proceeded ahead with the public hearing, the fishermen resorted to attacking the officials.
Sensing situation going out of control, the police resorted to lathicharge and arrested 200 protestors and shifted them to a nearby police station. Incidentally, the port officials had asked for increased security in view of the public hearing anticipating objections from the residents.
The Gangavaram Port, the country's deepest and multi-purpose port, has five berths. During 2010-11, the port handled 14 million tons cargo and is targeting to handle 16.5 million tons this year.
If the expansion plans are completed, the handling capacity would increase to 41 million tons. The state government has an 11 per cent stake in the project the GPL has paid the government Rs 22 crore as concession fee apart from the lease amount for 1,000 acres.
GPL has spent Rs 20 crore on pollution control measures and in the second phase of expansion, it plans to invest over Rs 50 crore in pollution control measures, he had added. Despite its defence and claims that it has taken measures to control the pollution, the opponents of the expansion plans say that the project should not go ahead by the Pollution Control Board as Visakhapatnam as a critically polluted area.
The port officials however insist that they have adopted the Environmental Management Plan consisting of mitigation measures, monitoring programme and institutional measures to minimise environmental impacts.
Visakhapatnam, May 12 (INN): Police had to use force to control a section of project-affected people after they attacked the officials conducting a public hearing by the AP Pollution Control Board for the expansion of Gangavaram Port by a consortium 'Gangavaram Port Limited' on Thursday.
The police also took around 200 persons into custody after the public meeting was disrupted by the members of the fishing community. Trouble began when the officials refused to listen to their objections and decided to proceed with the public hearing on the expansion plans of Gangavaram port.
The public hearing was called as the fishermen and locals residents who have come together under the aegis of Forum for Better Visakha, Forum for Sustainable Development, some fishing community associations and political parties, are strongly opposed to the expansion plans of port.
The groups objected to the proposed construction of four more berths and other facilities with an investment of Rs 995 crore and demanded that the officials stop the public hearing. They alleged that the new berths would increase the pollution levels significantly in the surrounding villages.
Apart from this, the protestors alleged that fake police cases have been filed against them and demanded that the government immediately lift these fabricated cases. Another important demand was that the government provide alternative livelihood for the women.
The protestors said they were not averse to development since the port has already been established but the management should not continue its attitude of neglecting the traditional fishermen who have been displaced and not keeping making assurances on employment, etc.
They said that the government could go ahead and conduct the public hearing on the expansion plans after addressing all the rehabilitation issues. However, when the officials did not relent and proceeded ahead with the public hearing, the fishermen resorted to attacking the officials.
Sensing situation going out of control, the police resorted to lathicharge and arrested 200 protestors and shifted them to a nearby police station. Incidentally, the port officials had asked for increased security in view of the public hearing anticipating objections from the residents.
The Gangavaram Port, the country's deepest and multi-purpose port, has five berths. During 2010-11, the port handled 14 million tons cargo and is targeting to handle 16.5 million tons this year.
If the expansion plans are completed, the handling capacity would increase to 41 million tons. The state government has an 11 per cent stake in the project the GPL has paid the government Rs 22 crore as concession fee apart from the lease amount for 1,000 acres.
GPL has spent Rs 20 crore on pollution control measures and in the second phase of expansion, it plans to invest over Rs 50 crore in pollution control measures, he had added. Despite its defence and claims that it has taken measures to control the pollution, the opponents of the expansion plans say that the project should not go ahead by the Pollution Control Board as Visakhapatnam as a critically polluted area.
The port officials however insist that they have adopted the Environmental Management Plan consisting of mitigation measures, monitoring programme and institutional measures to minimise environmental impacts.
News Posted: 12 May, 2011
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