VIJAYAWADA: When former Chief minister late Y S Rajashekar Reddy was laying the foundation stone for the construction of Machilipatnam port in April, 2008, the government did not realize that many strings were attached to it. People of Machilipatnam and surrounding areas were happy that their long-cherished dream of the port was about to become a reality. Even three years after the foundation stone was laid, no sign of progress has been visible yet.The project, estimated to cost Rs 1,590 crore, was originally awarded to Maytas Infra Ltd-led consortium in April, 2008. However, when the Maytas consortium failed to achieve financial closure for the project within the stipulated time, its members Sri Infrastructure Ltd and Sarat Chandra Co., declared that they were willing to exit from it. Following this, the state government had made a concession agreement with M/s. Machilipatnam Port Limited (MPL), Hyderabad, (consortium of M/s. Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd., and Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited and Associates/ Affiliates of Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd) and awarded the contract to them on June 6, 2010.In the 6,262-acre land allotted for the port, about Rs 1,860 crores is expected to be invested for development of the port with three berths, breakwaters, navigational channels, floating crafts, mechanical equipment, etc.But, no headway has been made with regard to port works even after promises were made by Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy after an all party meet with public representatives of Krishna district on August 17 and former chief minister K Rosaiah in this regard. Machilipatnam Bandh on Dec 15Observing state government’s nonchalance on the issue, people formed a ‘Bandar Port Sadhana Samithi’ and embarked upon relay hunger strike which is going to complete 365 days on December 15. And, the samithi has given a bandh call in Machilipatnam on Dec 15.According to Bandar Port Sadhana Samithi president Nidumolu Venkateshawara Prasad, around 2,000 people including public representatives, irrespective of their political parties, are going to take part in the bandh. “Once the port is constructed, Machilipatnam and Krishna district’s image would completely change as it would undergo unprecedented development and provide employment to thousands of jobless people,” he said. Meanwhile, Machilipatnam MP Konakalla Narayana Rao alleged that the state government was being insensitive to people’s demand. “The state government should take up the construction soon as there were no land acquisition problems too. Farmers are ready to give up their lands,” the MP said. We would continue our fight until the works commence, he asserted.According to a local of Machilipatnam, B Upendar Kumar, the port had played a key role in trade and commerce in the region during the 1st century A.D.“We are annoyed at the government’s delay in starting the works even after the farmers have agreed to offer their lands if they got decent compensation of `7 lakh per acre,” said another local Bachula Anil Kumar. The Bandar Port Sadhana Samithi members say that both Congress and TDP are using the Bandar port issue as a playing card to win the 2014 elections while none of them are actually interested to turn it into a reality. Convener of Port Sadhana Samithi Kosta Murali Krishna said that the issue would be resolved in a week’s time if the government was committed to it. However, sources in the Navayuga Engineering Ltd, which was awarded the contract, say the land has been handed over to the company and the process of financial closure would be completed within the given time.
Comments
0 comment