Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Vodarevu Minor Port becomes victim of local politics

Private companies hesitant though decks are cleared

CHIRALA: Will the Vodarevu Minor Port, near Chirala, that flourished till the first quarter of 20th century and wound up by 1947, see the light of the day again? The port, with a hoary past, has become the victim of local politics, in spite of recommendations by a number of agencies for its revival.

Attempts were made early in 1933 to save Vodarevu, declared as a port open for foreign trade. The "East Coast Trading Company" was formed to implement the scheme. The matter was taken up by the Government of Madras in 1944 under the post-war reconstruction scheme. The presidency port officer expressed that Vodarevu had certain natural advantages compared to Kakinada and Machilipatnam.

The port does not require any dredging, as at Machilipatnam, and can be connected easily to the other systems of communications in the district and the State. As a result of the efforts of the Vodarevu Port Development Committee, it was declared a minor port from November 1, 1959. The dilapidated godowns were seen till early 1970s.

When the work on minor port and ship-breaking unit was taken up by private companies during 1999, the A.P. Pollution Control Board stayed the work following complaints from some local leaders. When clearance was given and work taken up, some with a vested interest again got the work stalled. Though the decks have now been cleared, it is learnt that private companies are afraid to enter the fray.

While suggesting a mega project to improve the maritime infrastructure in the Andhra Pradesh coast at an outlay of Rs.6,053 crores in July 2005, the State Government ignored Vodarevu although it satisfied all the requirements laid down for setting up new ports, improvement of existing minor ports, creation of coastal tourism and recreational facilities.

Some local leaders who opposed the port earlier pleaded before the Third State Finance Commission that visited Chirala on January 19, 2006 to recommend restoration of the minor port at Chirala.

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