Tamil Nadu

Suez expertise for Sethu project

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, NOV. 27. The Sethusamudram project to deepen the sea channel around the tip of peninsular India will draw on the technical expertise of the Suez Canal Authority.

A memorandum of understanding for technical collaboration with the Authority, which manages one of the important waterways in the world, will be signed soon, T.R. Baalu, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, said today.

Briefing presspersons here, he said the Suez Canal management, during his recent visit to Egypt, evinced interest in providing technical assistance, including training of tug pilots who would guide vessels through the Sethusamudram canal. Mr. Baalu, who also visited the Panama Canal, said the Panama Government "showed interest in training people" in the maritime sector. The contribution of the Suez and Panama canals to the revenue of the governments was 34 and 17 per cent.

Refuting criticism that support from the two authorities would serve little purpose as both the canals were "land-based," the Minister said whatever the manner in which they were formed — by either cutting across the land or deepening an existing channel — "ships could sail only in water."

There was a proposal to establish a National Maritime University.

It would serve as an umbrella body for the 130-odd private and few government institutions imparting education in the field.

He hinted that the Panama Government could be a partner in the university.

The Ministry would move a Cabinet note seeking approval to declare the Buckingham Canal, from Kakinada to Marakkanam, a national waterway and develop it at a cost of Rs. 651 crores for cargo movement.

A rehabilitation package for the Hindustan Shipyard in Visakhapatnam was also under consideration. Andhra Pradesh recently agreed to provide a Rs.45-crore sales tax waiver for the unit.

The cargo handled by the 12 major ports during the six months rose by 10 per cent over the achievement in the corresponding period last year and the Shipping Corporation of India recorded a Rs. 528-crore profit.

On port development plans, Mr. Baalu said he had instructed all port chairmen "to go for expansion." The Ennore port was planning for container, coal, liquid and iron ore terminals. It, along with the Indian Oil Corporation, would set up a terminal for liquefied natural gas.

Road development

The Minister said highway development was progressing faster under the United Progressive Alliance Government, which laid 822 km in 180 days. Contradicting the claims by the National Democratic Alliance Government that 2.2 km of roads were developed a day during its five years, he said the present regime was working at twice that speed.

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