The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Steps against pollution urged

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Wednesday, Nov 28, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Steps against pollution urged

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: There is a necessity to ensure that the industries being set up along the coast take all precautions against damaging the marine wealth and the livelihood of fishermen, Minister for Infrastructure and Investment, Ports, Airports and Natural Gas M. Venkata Ramana Rao here on Tuesday.

Mr. Ramana Rao conceded that industries and other establishments would cause damage but the Government would make sure that environment protection measures were implement, when the opposition from fishermen and others to the many industries, ports and other establishments coming up or being proposed along the State’s coast line, was raised at a press conference.

During talks held with representatives of Dibbapalem last week the Government could sort out some issues raised, he said and assured that the rehabilitation package would be implemented to their satisfaction.

A conference on investment opportunities and infrastructure for Visakhapatnam - Kakinada coastal growth corridor to be held here on Wednesday would also discuss the environment aspect, he said.

The Gangavaram port coming up in private sector was expected to handle cargo by mid- 2008 while in the case of another port near Machilipatnam, the feasibility report was expected to be received shortly and the agreement with Maytas would be signed soon after that.

The Government would discuss with the Gangavaram port management the issue of exempting the port from paying tax to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation as the latter would be denied a huge amount, Mr. Venkata Ramana Rao said.

Answering a question he said that there was no proposal at present with the State Government to start a sea transport route along the AP coast as new ports were coming up, but a proposal was sent to the Centre Mayor P. Janardhana Rao, VUDA Chairman P.S.N. Raju, MLAs Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao and K. Ravi Babu and Managing Director of Infrastructure Corporation of AP Sanjay Jaju were present.

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