Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

‘Total security clearance’ likely soon: Vijayakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Now that the ‘defence clearance’ for setting up a mother port at Vizhinjam has been issued by the Centre, the ‘total security clearance’ for the port is also expected soon, the Minister for Ports M. Vijayakumar has said.

He was speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of a programme organised by the University of Kerala here on Tuesday.

The total security clearance includes an okay for the scheme from agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau and the RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) from the Home Ministry. “I don’t expect any further delay for the total security clearance. What is really needed now is a political clearance for the scheme,” he said.

Once all the necessary clearances were in place, the government would constitute a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to execute the Vizhinjam project.

Though the port would be set up by a consortium of three companies, setting up the infrastructure facilities was the mandate of the government. It was estimated that Rs.162 crore would be required for this, the Minister said.

The government agency RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Services) had completed a feasibility study for providing rail and road links to the proposed port. The Kerala Water Authority had plans to bring water to the port from the Vellayani lake. An amount of Rs.4 crore would be needed for this. The required power supply would be taken care of by the KSEB.

Though all these things were to be put in place only after the port was set up, the government was already gearing up for these works, he added.

The Federation of Residents Associations, Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT) has hailed the defence clearance for the international deepwater container transhipment terminal at Vizhinjam.

A pressnote quoting FRAT president Pattom Sasidharan Nair and general secretary Paraniyam Devakumar said the Kerala government and MPs from the State who had lobbied for the project deserved praise. “It also shows what can be achieved when politics is set aside to lobby for developmental issues.”

FRAT urged the government to start construction work on the mother port immediately.

Kovalam MLA George Mercier thanked Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony for ensuring speedy defence clearance for the Vizhinjam project. He said the consent given by the Defence Ministry would help to expedite the mandatory clearance of other Ministries.

The District Congress Committee (DCC) has also welcomed the defence clearance for the Vizhinjam project. DCC president V.S. Sivakumar said the approval demonstrated the Union government’s commitment to the development of the State capital.

“The establishment of the BrahMos unit and the international centre for space education and the steps taken for development of the airport and the medical college are examples,” he said.

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