The Hindu Business Line : Gangavaram port: Pact signed for resettlement

A TRIPARTITE agreement was signed late on Thursday evening after daylong deliberations on the resettlement and rehabilitation of fishermen to be displaced by the proposed Gangavaram port.

The representatives of the affected fishing villages of Gangavaram and Dibbapalem, the revenue officials, and the representatives of the private port consortium signed the pact, removing a major hurdle in the construction of the port.

The problem had been hanging fire for a long time, with the fishermen agitating for a fair deal as their livelihood would be affected.

According to the agreement, 250-300 jobs will be given to the members of the displaced families depending on their qualifications, after the port becomes operational.

During the construction period, the private contractors will give priority to the displaced in providing employment.

Fishermen in the vicinity will be allowed to fish till the port works are taken up and they have to stop the activity as soon as the construction begins.

The district administration will provide the displaced suitable alternative employment avenues or alternative fishing sites.

The compensation will be paid to the displaced within a month in accordance with the agreement and the resettlement facilities will be created within three months.

Mr T. Gurumurthy Reddy, the Gajuwaka MLA, who persuaded the villagers to sign the agreement, and Mr Praveen Prakash, District Collector, expressed happiness over the outcome.

Mr N. Sridhar, Director of State Ports, said that the first phase would be completed by December 2007 at a cost of Rs 1,850 crore.

The port was awarded to the consortium headed by DV Raju and Company on a build, operate, and transfer basis.

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