Date:03/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/03/stories/2006060301381900.htm

Back HC order on storage tanks in Ernakulam

Our Bureau

Port officials told to file report

Kochi , June 2

The Kerala High Court has directed the Ernakulam District Crisis Management Committee to file a further report on the construction of petroleum products storage tanks in the reclaimed land of Cochin Port Trust (CPT) at Vathuruthy, near Willingdon Island.

The court also directed the port authorities to file a report within three weeks regarding the clearance given by as many as ten authorities to various private firms to construct storage tanks on the reclaimed land.

The court direction comes in the wake of a petition filed by the Willingdon Island Residents Association seeking to prohibit the construction of storage tanks in the Vathuruthy area in the light of a recent collapse of a tank. It may be recalled that a writ petition filed by the Association seeking the same relief is already pending before the Court.

The port, in its affidavit submitted that suitable plots of land were allotted by them for construction of mechanised, eco-friendly and safe handling/storage facilities for liquid bulk cargo. According to CPT, safety issues were given topmost priority while allotting land to various companies.

Every such leaseholder was required to take statutory clearances from various regulatory authorities at different stages of construction.

The Port authorities said that storage tanks were to be constructed after carrying out intensive soil investigation. Apart from this, necessary Environment Impact Assessment and Disaster Management Plans by approved agencies were conducted and commissioning of the facilities was permitted only after obtaining the environment clearance.

According to port officials, hazardous liquid cargo was being handled in many of the ports such as Kandla, New Mangalore, JNPT etc.

The major objective of the Port was to create facilities for import and export of different cargo and for the reception and handling of seagoing vessels.

The Port was bound to facilitate the port users to develop port-related infrastructure and facilities so created should be used to augment the volume of trade.