AP could be new ground for dumping toxic waste

Hyderabad: Many an eyebrows are being raised at the hurry in which the Andhra Pradesh government had announced the development of 14 greenfield ports on the coast. According to experts, the intention of the government may not be generating clean revenue or providing safe environment for workers. Environmentalists and social workers claim that the government's decision without preliminary studies on the viability of these ports raises doubts that these could be used as new destination for toxic dumps from the US and European countries.

They said the AP government should study the case of Alang on Gujarat coast where hazardous materials generated by ship breaking unit are putting surrounding villages and 5,000 workers in danger. Even ships have been discharging waste and it would be naïve to think that the Indian officials are not aware of it.

State Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu recently said AP government would not allow ship breaking units or dumping of waste by foreign vessels but go ahead with development of new ports to make the State a new gateway to India.

An expert in the port traffic BS Ramaraju said these new ports would not be economically viable and directly affect the public sector Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

He said Andhra Pradesh had a coastline of 940 km out of which around 40 percent had already been covered by the ports so far planned, like those forming VANPIC, Machlipatnam and Gangavaram.

“Where can the newly announced ports be accommodated?” Raju asked.

Former bureaucrat and activist EAS Sharma fears that these ports could be coming up for reasons other than serving traffic needs.

“The ports on the west coast are presently serving as dump yards for toxic waste and scrap from the West. I will not be surprised if the same happens to the east coast,”' he said.

He said the State has a sizeable population of fishing communities all along the coast. As a result of the industrial projects and ports already planned, many fishing families have lost their access to the sea. If another 14 ports come up, it is the fishing population that will get adversely affected. The new government has apparently not given any thought to this, Sharma said.

On the security front, east coast is strategically important. If such a large number of ports are to be constructed, the Navy's security interests will get affected. Prior to sanction of Gangavaram Port, the top naval officials from Eastern Naval Command had raised objections on the security grounds.

“This is particularly true as AP is the only State that has created, imprudently, ‘exclusive’ rights over the seafront for private ports,”' Sharma said.