Posted on August 7, 2017
By Rajesh B. Nair, The Hindu
In the wake of release of toxic waste into the sea from the contaminated inner channel of Thengaithittu fishing harbour during dredging work which was carried out to operationalise the port, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has requested Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy to hold consultation with the elected representatives and all stakeholders to arrive at an earlier conclusion on the project.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Ms. Bedi said, “I request that the elected government may consider discussing the issue in the Assembly as also hold a conference with the activists and experts at the earliest to hear them out as this is an investment forever and may make substantial changes in the quality of life of Puducherry.”
Pointing out the serious concerns raised by environmental activists about the viability of the port project, she said the issue “must be squarely addressed and responded to before we proceed with the matter at the earliest”.
Ms. Bedi said a well-examined decision would be at the best interest of Puducherry.
CM differs
The Hindu was the first to break the story on the contamination after the Dredging Corporation of India started clearing the inner channel of the harbour.
While the Lt. Governor, after visiting the port on Friday, expressed her reservations about the continuance of the project, the Chief Minister on the same day held a meeting with officials and directed them to go ahead with the dredging work. The Chief Minister had made it clear that there was no going back on the project.
The ruling Congress and the Lt. Governor had been at loggerheads on the port project since the government initiated steps to start cargo operations.
In fact, it was the port issue that brought to public domain the differences between them. ruling Congress and Lt Governor. The initial controversy was whether to award the work on a tender basis or allot it to a government agency.
Finally, the government had to accept Ms. Bedi’s decision to allot the work to DCI, a public sector undertaking.
The government had already entered into an understanding with Union Shipping Ministry to develop the port here into a satellite port of the Chennai Port Trust.
Source: The Hindu
