Machilipatnam Port yet to be anchored

Despite a year-long hunger strike staged by the residents of Machilipatnam, the project is yet to see the light of the day. Adding to the woes, the delay has escalated the cost of the project from Rs 1,800 crore to Rs 5,000 crore. Land acquisition and relocation of 565 families are chinks in the project too

The wait continues and there are no signs of the dream coming true as far as the Machilipatnam Port is concerned. Despite repeated promises by successive chief ministers, the project lies in limbo. The year-long hunger strike by residents of Machilipatnam has gone unrecognised as the project is yet to be grounded. The then chief minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy had laid the foundation stone for the port in April, 2008.

The contractor, Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd, too has been waiting for all the clearances, including land allotment by the government. Though the project was initially awarded to Maytas, it was later handed over to the Navayuga, as Maytas, a consortium of Satyam Computers, landed in financial crisis.

The port, planned with three berths, breakwaters, navigational channels, floating crafts, mechanical equipments in the first phase, was aimed at the coal requirements of Dr Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Project in Vijayawada and the major cement factories in Jaggaiahpet area of Krishna district. It was also proposed to export iron ore from Bayyaram and barytes deposits of Khammam district from the port. The initial plans and promises projected that the port was to begin operations this year.

Former chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had even promised allocation of 5,324 acres of land for the port and had handed over an order from the government during his visit to the town on May 3, 2012. However, there is a dispute between the company and the government over the land to be handed over to the company. The government had promised to allocate 6,000 acres of land initially but had brought it down to 5,324 acres which was not accepted by Navayuga.

However, Navayuga claims that the land promised by the government was not handed over. The company also wants the government to increase the cost as the investment estimate had gone up from the initial Rs 1,800 crore to Rs 5,000 crore due to the delay.

The Krishna district administration had submitted a detailed project report on land acquisition in April this year estimating the cost at Rs 500 crore. Besides the land in the limits of Manginapudi, Gopuvanipalem, Karaagraharam, Tapasipudi and Bandar East revenue villages, the government will require another Rs 40 crore for relocation of over 565 families that will be replaced after land acquisition.

Navayuga says that they are ready to begin the work once the land is physically handed over to them. The ruling TD leaders though making tall claims on the port are not taking steps on land acquisition prolonging the dream further. Will the leaders wake up from slumber and start the port operations is the question that the people of Machilipatnam town are asking.