Official suspended; Sagar Port project in limbo

26 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 26 MARCH: The deep-draught Sagar Port project has been put on hold for an indefinite period while the fate of an officer attached with the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) who has been suspended for raising his voice against the much-hyped project hangs in the balance.
Mr Ramakant Burman, convener of the Haldia Dock Banchao Committee and a senior port officer in Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) who had been instrumental in saving the port through his pro-development movements and initiatives was suspended a few months ago by KoPT chairman ML Meena when he had raised his voice against the corruption relating to the land reclamation project at Sagar Island.
Mr Burman at that time pointed out that the project was not viable because the location of the proposed port was chalked out on the western side of the island where land would be reclaimed through shore disposal of dredge proceeds from the Auckland bar.
While replying to questions mailed to the KoPT chairman, Mr Meena had said: “The removal of impediments has created a safe waterway towards Haldia via upper Auckland that is a scope of alternate ship movement through Eden Channel, by-passing lower Auckland.”
“The shipping route/channel cannot be compared with highways or any static route. The shipping channel in hydrodynamic environment could neither be created nor deserted overnight. Thus Auckland channel cannot be overlooked at the present hydrodynamic scenario,” he said.
But, according to the study reports of RITES, if Sagar West Port is situated at downstream of Bedford group of Islands and thereby possibility of sedimentation caused by eroded Bedford Island may yield adverse effect in the approach channel.
Two days ago, when Mr Meena placed his project proposal in KoPT's board meeting, the project was put on hold owing to lack of funds and adverse report of RITES on the proposed project.
“Mr Meena has been proved wrong for his unscientific project proposal by both the Union shipping ministry and the port's board members, but the fate of our convener remains uncertain,” said an officer of Haldia Dock Banchao Committee.
According to port officials, Mr Burman had played a pivotal role in opening the Eden Channel, an alternative route which is believed to be the panacea for the crisis-ridden Haldia Port.
“Mr Burman had also played a vital role by which the Union government had been forced to amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules. He had carried out movement against the illegal transport of Ammonium Nitrate when a vessel laden with explosive grade ammonium nitrate was caught at Haldia Port by the sleuths of IB,” a senior port officer said.
“Indian Explosives Limited used to import the said explosive material by declaring the same as fertilisers and used to transport the same openly through Maoist belts of Jharkhand and West Bengal. But, his activities were ignored and he has been put under suspension as he spoke against Mr Meena,” the officer said.