Bid to increase draft of rivers stalled yet again

HALDIA: The much-needed project for increasing the draft of the Hooghly and Haldi rivers, essential for the survival of the Kolkata and Haldia ports, has been stalled once again.
The Kolkata Port Trust has refused to meet the conditions set by Dredging International, Jan de nul and South Asian Dredging Corporation,, the companies entrusted with the implementation of the Rs.350.84 crore river regulatory scheme (RRS).
Earlier this year, the project was halted for the same reason. “Contractors entrusted with the RRS have given some conditions, not acceptable to a project involving huge amount of government money,� KoPT deputy chairman M L Meena told TNN. While he did not specify the conditions, he said, “The contractors were not giving a depth guarantee without which the entire scheme turns futile.�
The shipping channels of Haldi, Hooghly and Rupnarayan need at least 9.5metres draft for sustainability of the Haldia Dock System, port officials here said. However, a section of port engineers feel that a depth guarantee cannot be assured, given to the estuary characteristics.
Meena, however, contradicted this view, saying their German consultant, J.Suendermann and CWPRS, had recommended a performance guaranteed dredging, considering the requirements of the next 20 years. “The contractors were not maintaining the recommendations of the consultants,� he said.
However, in view of the emergency of the project, KoPT will immediately hold discussions with their consultants and refer the matter to the shipping ministry. “Floating fresh tenders may involve another five to six months which may not be affordable to the conditions of the present river draft. The scheme was scheduled for completion in December 2003 and we are already late in kicking off. Decisions will be however finally taken according to the instructions of the ministry�, Meena said.
The Centre had recommended the Rs. 350.84 crore RRS in April 2001 to reduce annual maintenance costs but no action is visible yet.