The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : MPs take up cudgels on behalf of Chennai, Ennore ports

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 10, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

MPs take up cudgels on behalf of Chennai, Ennore ports

Staff Reporter

Corporate office of Ennore Port Limited opened

DEAL SEALED: Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan handing over the letter of intent to industrialist A.C. Muthiah (right), whose company SICAL has bagged the iron ore terminal project at the Ennore Port, in Chennai on Sunday. — Photo: S.R. Raghunat han

CHENNAI: It may be some time before competition between the Chennai and Ennore ports hots up. But, the imminent possibility of a scenario, where one gains at the cost of the other, was enough to make elected representatives present a strong case for development of ports in their respective constituencies.

The occasion was the inauguration of the corporate office of Ennore Port Limited on Rajaji Salai here on Sunday by State Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan.

Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu was present.

While Sriperumbudur Member of Parliament A. Krishnasamy sought a container terminal at the Ennore port, North Chennai MP C. Kuppusami underscored the need to ensure that the manpower strength of the Chennai port does not shrink.

Both ports needed

Mr. Anbazhagan, the Harbour constituency MLA, said the ports, particularly in the backdrop of the growing economy, complemented each other. Without Ennore, it would be difficult for the Chennai port to handle the growing cargo. Apart from reducing the pollution in the city, the Ennore port, given the potential of industrialisation in its neighbourhood, would be beneficial.

Underscoring the need to protect the environment and curb pollution, he welcomed the proposal to establish a Special Economic Zone in Ennore.

The SEZ, according to Mr. Baalu, would come up on 2,500 acres. The State Government's cooperation was essential for the project, considering that it would have little scope for levying sales tax in the area.

Briefing presspersons later, he said a programme to renovate the Kasimedu fishing harbour at a cost of Rs. 25 crore and construct a berth in the neighbourhood for trawlers with an investment of Rs. 100 crore had been drawn up.

Renovation of the facility was one of the demands raised by the fishing community during the Assembly elections. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had promised to do the needful.

Chennai Port Trust Chairman K. Suresh said the renovation and reconstruction work at the fishing harbour included construction of a new jetty and extension of the breakwater. The work would be completed within a year.

Mr. Baalu said his Ministry would work with the State Government to develop minor ports. Several facilities would be either upgraded or promoted as part of the Sethusamudram project with an investment of Rs. 60 crore.

State Planning Commission vice-chairman M. Naganathan and Ennore port director N. Kumar highlighted the significance of port infrastructure for economic development. Chennai Port Trust trustee L. Balaraman and General Manager (corporate planning) of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited S. Velumani spoke.

The Finance Minister handed over the letter of intent for establishing an iron ore terminal at Ennore port to industrialist A.C. Muthiah, whose South India Corporation (Agencies) Limited, has bagged the project.

The documents for setting up a coal terminal at the port were handed over to S.P. Palaniappan, whole-time director of South India Corporation Limited.

Orders making 17 temporary employees of Ennore Port Limited permanent were also given away at the meeting.

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