The Hindu Business Line : 'No norms violated in reclaiming land at Vathuruthy'

THE Cochin Port Trust has submitted before the Kerala High Court that the reclamation of land for setting up chemical tanks in the port area has been carried out under the guidelines of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, for which it had obtained necessary permission from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The port authorities, in the counter affidavit, said it had not violated the law in reclaiming land at Vathuruthy area earmarked to set up chemical storage tanks. The allegation in the writ petition that the port had reclaimed 15 acres of land under the guise of reclaiming backwaters without obtaining permission under CRZ notification is not correct.

It is submitted that the storage of petroleum products is a permitted activity under CRZ notification and the area falling under the Willingdon Island is not ecologically sensitive and in the Coastal Zone Management of Kerala.

The port had filed the counter affidavit in the wake of a writ petition filed by the Willingdon Island Residents' Association seeking to demolish the tanks already constructed in the reclaimed area.

The port authorities pointed out that it is not for the first time that permission has been granted to construct tanks in the reclaimed area. It had earlier given permission to companies such as Indian Oil Corporation to set up tanks for storage purpose.

It is also brought to the notice of the court that hazardous liquid cargo is being handled in many of the ports such as Kandla, New Mangalore and JNPT. The major objective of the port is to create facilities for import and export of different cargo and for the reception and handling of seagoing vessels. The port is bound to facilitate its users to develop port-related infrastructure and the facilities so created should be used to augment the volume of trade.

According to port officials, the entire Willingdon Island where the port is functioning is reclaimed area and the erection of tanks or construction of any building has not affected any of the reclaimed area of the port. The port has been reclaiming area and leasing the same for various port related activities and, therefore, there is nothing wrong in reclaiming land and giving it to tank farms and other port users.

It also pointed out in the affidavit that Kochi has grown considerably in commercial activities and the port also should keep pace to meet the situation by providing adequate facilities within the port area. Therefore, it should be necessary to strike a balance between the utilities provided and the human safety conditions. In many cases, the society has to tolerate existence of certain utility services.

"If the intention of the petitioner is to seek demolition of tank farms, it will only ruin the progress of the port and the State. Maybe there are certain risks involved in all these operations and our only submission is that the society has to live with such risks, which of course, will be minimised by adequate safety measures and controls," the port said.

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