Kendrapara: A change in the regime in Odisha has pushed the state’s first riverine port project into uncertainty. More than five years have elapsed since the project was announced, but now it appears that it may not take off at all with a new government coming into power in Odisha, sources from Kendrapara stated Sunday.
Outgoing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced the project December 8, 2018. He had stated that the riverine port project will come up on the Mahanadi near Akhadasali village under Mahakalapada block in this district. He had stated that the port will be constructed by the Paradip Port Authority in public-private partnership mode. Once established it would generate employment opportunities for more than 15,000 people, officials had stated.
Later, officials of the Odisha government held a discussion with ArcelorMittal for signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March, 2019. The then 5T secretary Kartik Pandian had also visited Akhadasali in December 2020. However, now the fate of the port is clouded in uncertainty with the BJP coming to power in Odisha.
Initial estimates for construction of the port were done. Officials stated that approximately Rs2,110 crore will be needed for the first phase of construction. Once operational, the port will handle 18.43 million tonne of cargo annually, they said.
Local intelligentsia Chittaranjan Sahu, advocate Ramani Ranjan Routray, social activists Gayadhar Dhal, Pratap Kumar Tripathy and Sushil Kumar Rout pointed out that as a district Kendrapara has always been neglected by the Odisha government. They pointed out this district lies in 26th place in rankings based on economic development in the state. They added that the state government always makes tall promises, but fails to implement those.
The state government had promised to construct a port at Barunei, a remote area in the district in 2009. Similarly, plans to develop and modernise this town and construction of a power plant at Alailo under Marshaghai block were announced before the 2014 Assembly elections. However, both projects have fizzled out, informed the locals.
There was a buzz after the 2019 elections that Paradip Port will soon start construction at Akhadasali and ArcelorMittal will set up a steel plant. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the district and promised that the port will be established. However, the twin projects have failed to make any headway since then. People now are of the opinion that the projects have been shelved and nothing concrete will happen.
PNN