Vizhinjam promoters to apply afresh for terms of reference

Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), promoters of an international seaport and container transhipment terminal near here, will go back to the Ministry of Environment and Forest for finalisation of the terms of reference (ToR).

This is in response to a directive by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry, which found fault with the special purpose vehicle's original application for the same.

‘HIGH EROSION'

Among other things, the EAC had cited the fact that the district of Thiruvananthapuram, which houses the site for the proposed project, fell within the ‘high erosion zone.'

Sources in VISL sought to contest this finding by the Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management Project under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The site, they said, has been subjected to detailed assessment by internationally renowned agencies such as L&T Ramboll and Royal Haskoning of the Netherlands.

Their findings were filed with the original application as well.

VISL has now commissioned the Centre for Earth Science Studies here to do a fresh assessment of the project area before going back to the Ministry.

Sources said that the Chairman of the EAC had orally given his approval of the original ToR at the meeting held in New Delhi on January 20.

CONCEPT DESIGN

Representatives from the VISL, Royal Haskoning, L&T Ramboll and project consultants International Finance Corporation (IFC) were present at the meeting.

The EAC has also taken exception to the fact that only an ‘initial concept report' has been submitted along with the original application.

A concept design alone has been selected for further development. But, consultants IFC is also considering a number of ‘variants' based on the selected concept.

This rendered some ‘uncertainty' with regard to the final shape of the project, the EAC said in its minutes.

FEASIBILITY REPORT

The EAC has also demanded that a finalised technical feasibility report shall be submitted.

The committee was of the opinion that the VISL come up with a concretised proposal ‘fit for' implementation.

It must also take into consideration the impact of development of the international container transhipment terminal at Vallarpadam and other similar developments while preparing the feasibility/detailed project report.

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