Date:11/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/11/stories/2005031107140400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Polavaram for cargo movement favoured

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MARCH 10. Two canals of the proposed Polavaram project can be used for inland water transport, says G.L. Rao, former national president, Institution of Engineers. With a bed-width of 80 metres and length of 150 and 170 km, these two canals can easily support cargo movement.

Speaking at the inaugural of the 18th national convention of marine engineers here on Thursday, Mr. Rao pointed out that the State had over 2,300 km of internal waterways comprising rivers and irrigation canals, but almost all of them had been abandoned. He expressed happiness at the announcement by the Government about plans to revive these internal waterways for navigation and exhorted marine engineers to take the lead in providing recommendations for this.

Focus on shipping

R.M. Bhatia, CMD, Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, said that India needed to invest heavily in the shipping sector since much of the country's present ships and shipping infrastructure were ageing and in need of replacement. Nearly 25 per cent of India's oil tankers and many of its dry cargo vessels would need to be scrapped in the coming five years.