RAMAYAPATNAM PORT - REPORT TO PM & CM BY PRAKASAM DISTRICT DEVELOPEMENT FORUM

                          





                                                                    
     





                                                                                                                                                                                               Date : 15-06-2014.

                                                                                                     Place : GUNTUR 

To

Sri Narendra Damodardas Modi ji

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India,

152, South Block, Raisina Hill,

New Delhi-110011

Respected Sir,

Sub :  Notification of Dugarajupatnam  as Major Port-cum-Ship building yard ---A conspiracy and a fraud on Nation

Ø    In August 2011, Government of India announced to establish two major ports in the country – one in the West Bengal and the other in the A.P.

Ø    The Ministry of shipping had straight away accorded approval for the  one location named Sagar for establishment of Major Port which was proposed by the Government of West Bengal for its State.

Ø    The Port Trust of Kolkata engaged M/S RITES Limited Gurgaon to study and to submit Techno-Economic Feasibility Report for the location of Sagar  and  accordingly M/S RITES submitted the same in July 2012.

Ø    Government of A.P. suggested three places i.e., Nakkapalli, Ramayapatnam and Dugarajapatnam to choose one from among them towards establishment of Major Port-cum-Shipbuilding Yard.

Ø    Ministry of Shipping, Government of India constituted 5 member Technical Committee headed by Shri Polyaamozhi the Advisor (Shipping Development) in October 2011 to study these three places and to submit a report. Later they co-opted two more experts as members thus raising the number of Committee to 7.

Ø    The Committee surveyed and studied these three locations from December 2011 to March 2012, held discussions with concerned stake holders and submitted its report to Ministry of Shipping, Government of India in May 2012 enlisting merits and demerits of each location like depth of sea at each location, straight sea front / water front offered by Govt. of A.P, availability of road and rail connectivity, availability of export cargo, and expenditure projections for each location, besides security and environment related problems at Nakkapalli and Dugarajupatnam.

According to the Technical Committee

Ø    The Naval authorities objected for the port at Nakkapalli, citing security threat to its strategic installations at Rambilli.

Ø    The SDSC – SHAR objected for the port at Dugarajapatnam citing security threat to its installations and its scientists (from terrorists)  and also citing polluting ambience to it.

Ø    The committee also reported that the land allocated for the Dugarajapatnam port and the concerned villages i.e. Srinivasapuram, Kakivakam, Pambali locks, Pulinjirapalem are virtually in Pulicat Wild Life Sanctuary area and therefore the selected area is environmentally sensitive.

Ø    Committee also reported that the land allocated for Dugarajapatanam port is not a contiguous one and is available in pieces and bits at 8 places surrounded by water.

Ø    There is no direct approach road to Sea-shore and to land allocated for the Port at Dugarajupatnam and one has to take the help of country boat to reach there, as per the Report.

Ø    Committee reported that the mouth of Lake at Konduripalem in the North side of Dugarajapatnam will be blocked once port is established affecting the inflow of water in to the lake drastically, causing severe damage to the environment and to the flora and fauna of this 2^nd biggest salt-lake of our country.

Ø    The Technical Committee reported that the only advantage in respect of Dugarajapatnam of SPSR Nellore District is that the number of people to be rehabilitated is less when compared to other two locations.

The restrictions in the case of Dugarajupatnam location as per Technical Committee are that

Ø    The Krishnapatnam Port which is also in SPSR Nellore District is having exclusive rights over seashore up to 30 km towards Dugarajupatnam location and 30 km towards Ramayapatnam location. The A P Govt. has to denotify those exclusive rights if any one of these two locations is selected for Major Port. The location of Dugarajupatnam  is 20 km away southside to Krishnapatnam Port and Ramayyapatnam location is 100 km away northside to Krishnapatnam Port.

Ø    The Dugarajapatnam  is environmentally sensitive as the same falls within the Pulicat Wild Life Sanctuary.

Ø    Presence of Mangrove to an extent of 949 acres, long distance of rail and road connectivity, about 42 km & 35 Km respectively when compared to 6 Km in the case of other 2 locations

Ø    10 mts. depth contour at 3.6 Km. and 20 mts depth contour at 17.4 km. at Dugarajapatnam as compared to 0.9 Km. and 4.5 Km. at Nakkapalli and 1.8 Km. and 15.3 Km. at Ramayapatnam respectively.

Ø    The overall expenditure for Dugarajupatnam port projected by the Technical Committee is at Rs. 7,988 crores as opposed to Rs. 5992 crores at Nakkapalli and Rs. 7219 crores at Ramayapatnam. (Annexure 1 ) After change of borders, M/S RITES Ltd has estimated that the capital cost at Dugarajupatnam location is about Rs.9633 cores. (If LA & RR expenditure of Rs 2700 crores is also taken in to account, the total estimated cost will be Rs12333 crores at Dugarajupatnam location.) After change of borders, neither Union Shipping Ministry nor AP Govt. estimated the LA & RR cost so far. The Union Shipping Ministry replied to a request of such details under RTI Act, that it was not having any such details.  Basing on the inputs given by M/S RITES Ltd in its Report under chapter titled capital cost, the R&R expenditure can be estimated to be Rs 2700 crores.

Ø    Availability of less export cargo at Dugarajupatnam as compared to Ramayapatnam and Nakkapalli, as per Report of Technical Committee.

Ø    The Sea front/Water front offered by the then A P Govt. is 2.5 Km at Dugarajupatnam, 9.71 Km at Ramayapatnam and 7 Kms at Nakkapalli.

Ø    Committee reported that no environmental and security problems exist at Ramayapatnam.

Ø    Dugarajupatnam location is at a distance of 10 km to the north end of Sriharikota and at 23 km to the SDSC-SHAR, thus creating security threat to SDSC-SHAR (from terrorists).

The Ministry of Shipping held meeting at New Delhi on 22-8-2012.

            In the meeting, the Principle secretary Govt. of A.P. informed that their preferred location for establishing the major port is Ramayapatnam considering the location advantages and other aspects.

Ø    The authority from the Department of Space expressed reservations on Dugarajupatnam stating that it posed a security threat to SDSC – SHAR – being situated within the LAUNCH RISK ZONE.

Ø    The representative of Navy expressed their reservations on Nakkapalli location

            The action points enlisted in the minutes of the above said meeting held on 22-8-12 (Annexure 2) are

1.         The Govt. of A.P. may formally communicate the preferred location within a week or so.

2.         The draft cabinet note for CCEA may be prepared by the MOS.

3.         A Corporate JV may be formed with Vishakhapatnam Port Trust and Govt. of A.P. as equity holders after the in-principle approval by the Cabinet.

4.         Vishakhapatnam Port Trust will initiate action to carry out the feasibility study on the selected location from its own funds, the cost which will become part of their equity in JV Company later.

Govt. of A P preferred Ramayyapatnam location.

            Soon after that meeting, the Honorable  Chief Minister of A.P. wrote a letter on 2-9-12 (Annexure 3) intimating to the the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India that their preferred location is Ramayapatnam due to its advantages but not Dugarajupatnam location which poses security threat to SDSC-SHAR and environmental threat to Pulicat Lake  Wild Life Sanctuary.

             He also confirmed that Govt. of A.P. will take only 11% equity in the JV and agreed to develop the port on the Ennore Port model. He further requested Ministry of Shipping Government of India to take immediate action for obtaining approval of competent authority for this proposal.

            The Honorable Ministry of Infrastructure and investment of Govt. of A P gave detailed reasons in the Dec  2012 in a reply to a querry raised by one Honorable Member of Legislative Council  that Govt. of A P wanted a Major Port at Ramayyapatnam only instead of at Dugarajupatnam. (Annexure 4). The Hon’ble Minister also announced in the press conference that  Major port will come at Ramayapatnam village since SDSC – SHAR at Sriharikota objected to the location of Dugarajupatnam & the Dept of Forests also objected for the Port there citing the reason that Major Port will endanger the Pulicat Lake. (Annexure 4-1)

            Captain Sri P.V.K. Mohan, Chairman, National Shipping Board told The Hindu on 21-9-12 that the 2^nd major port in A.P would come at Ramayapatnam and the Hon’ble Prime Minister decided to give fast track status to this Port also. (Annexure 4A)

Alleged manipulations made by Union Shipping Ministry.

            But the Union Shipping Ministry was some how not inclined to concede the recommendation of Govt. of AP. It started to play a dangerous game and started illegal manipulations, after receipt of letter dated 2^nd September 2012 from the Honorable C M of Govt. of A P.

           

            After that date of letter i.e 02-09-2012, the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India did not initiate any required action from 3-9-2012 onwards for obtaining approval of competent authority for establishing the port at Ramayapatnam i.e., the preferred location of the Govt. of A.P untill 15-4-13 ie. almost for a period of more than 7 months.  Meanwhile the Department of Space wrote a letter on 31 Oct 2012 while enclosing a map along with it to Union Shipping Ministry. (Annexure5). In that letter it reiterated   that the proposed port at Dugarajapatnam poses security threat to SDSC–SHAR as the port area is within the launch risk zone.

            However the Minster of Shipping was not in a mood to pay heed to the security concerns of Space Department. It engaged later with some correspondence in a manipulative way vide it’s letters dtd 8-10-12 and 15-11-12 (Annexures 6 & 7) seeking certain clarifications about contents of map. It pointed out that in the said enclosed map it was shown that Dugarajupatnam is away by about 10Kms, from High Risk Zone. But whereas the Dept of Space stated that Dugarajupatnam still is within the launch Risk Zone.  The Dept. of Space imposed 5 conditions to the Union Shipping Ministry for agreeing to the location of Major Port at Dugarajupatnam. But the Union Shipping Ministry did not pay any heed to those 5 conditions also in a most unpatriotic way, for the best reasons known to itself. Those conditions are dealt separately in this letter.

            The Vishakhapatnam Port Trust also did not initiate action between 3.9.12 to 15.4.13 for obtaining Techno-Economic feasibility report from RITES for Ramayapatnam port, similar to the feasibility report obtained by the Kolkata port trust for Sagar port – which points out to  the possible hidden conspiracy of the vested interests.

           

            About 38 Hon’ble MPs led by Sri Chinta Mohan, the then Hon’ble MP from Tirupathi submitted a representation dt : 22-11-12 to the then Hon’ble Prime Minister informing that a Port at Dugarajupatnem needs to be developed as major Port by Government of India. They also stated that Ennore and Dugarajupatnam are in safe zone and hence the rule applied to Ennore port is to be applied to Dugarajapatnam port and requested to do the needful. (Annexure 8).

            In another representation dt : 18-12-12 about 42 Hon’ble MPs led by Sri Chinta Mohan, the then Hon’ble MP represented to Smt. Sonia Gandhi the UPA Chairperson that a big industrial corridor is coming between Bangalore, Chennai and Nellore to help 3 southern states. To help these 3 states there is need to develop at mid point the Dugarajapatnam port in Nellore district of A.P and hence he was requesting her to bless this Port and to do the needful. (Annexure 9).

           

            Smt. Sonia  Gandhi president of All India Congress committee wrote on 31-12-2012 to Sri N. Dharam Singh, the then Honorable M P, who was one of the signatories to the above said representation, that their representation for establishing Major Port at Dugarajupatnam location was being forwarded to the concerned Authority. (Annexure 10). It appears that the letter from Smt.Sonia Gandhi was treated as an Order by the concerned Authorities,  even at the cost of national security i.e security threat to SDSC-SHAR.

            In the Supplementary note dated 7-5-13 (Annexure 11) moved by Ministry of Shipping,  GOI for CCEA Meeting to be held on 9-5-13, it was mentioned that the CCEA deliberated its note dated 15-4-13 (Annexure 12) on 2-5-13. Further it was stated in that note dated 07-05-2013 that the proposal of location of port in A.P. was discussed in detail on 2.5.13 by the CCEA and views were expressed in favor of establishing Major Port at Dugarajapatnam, and that the Ministry of Shipping was accordingly requested to come up with a supplementary note to that effect.

            In the said Supplementary note Ministry of Shipping (MOS) Government of India has submitted that the Dugarajapatnam has the following advantages in comparison to the other proposed locations.

1.         Extent of Land to be acquired is the least at 1218 acres and availability of Govt. Land for backup area is also the maximum at 3809 acres.

2.         Population to be rehabilitated is only at 518 with only 4 villages and 164 houses – being the least to other location.

3.         No. of fishermen getting affected is 4340 which is also the least.

4.         Existing connectivity from Dugarajapatnam is considered good – connected to NH-5 at three places – Sullurpet 35Kms, Naidupet 33Kms and Guduru 42Kms. The nearest railway station is at Guduru – 42Kms.

            The above information furnished by Ministry of Shipping, Government of India pertains to the proposed Port  area covered by a sea front/water front of 2.5 Km at Dugarajapatnam Village, as compared to 7 Km at Nakkapalli and 9.71 Km offered at Ramayapatnam.

            It may please be noted that, larger the water front/sea front, coverage of villages, houses, population and fishermen will be  more naturally. If the same sea front/water front was taken to the extent of 2.5 Km at Ramayapatnam also, instead of 9.71kms, then the number of villages, houses, population and fishermen to be rehabilitated would be quite less than that given in the report of Technical Committee and would have matched  by and large with the data of Dugarajupatnam.  More sea-front is always considered by experts as an advantage for establishment of new Port. In the present case it was treated as disadvantage by the Union Shipping Ministry.

            At Dugarajapatnam, the four selected villages  and the land allocated for Port  are virtually located in Pulicat Bird Sanctuary and most of this land  naturally belongs to Govt. of A.P.  Hence availability of more Government Land as backup area at this place cannot be shown as an advantage at Dugarajapatnam location. More over it is practically impossible to establish the port there in this given land on account of the following points.

            The Principle secretary  to Govt. of A.P (Environment and Forests) in his letter dated 5-3-2012 (well before the CCEA meeting on 2-5-13) had clearly informed the Development Advisor (Ports) Ministry of Shipping, Government of India  that (Annexure 13) .

1.         The proposed port site at Dugarajapatnam falls within Pulicat Wild life sanctuary declared under the Wild Life Protection Act 1972.

2.         No alternation of the boundaries of the sanctuary can be made by the State Government except on a recommendation of the National Board for Wild Life.

3.         Section 29 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 prescribes that no person shall destroy or cause damage to wild life including forest produce from a sanctuary or destroy or cause damage to the habitat of any wild animal by any act what so ever or divert and stop the flow of water into or out side the sanctuary except under and in accordance with the permission granted by the Chief Wild Life Warden. Further no such permit shall be granted unless the State Government being satisfied in consultation with the Board that such removal of wild life from the sanctuary or the change in the flow of water into or outside the sanctuary is necessary for the improvement and better management of wild life and flora & fauna there in authorizes the issue of such permit.

4.         The Government of A.P. also informed the Development Advisor (ports) Ministry of Shipping (MOS) Government of India  there in, that Hon’ble Supreme Court of India by an order dated 14-2-2000 in IA no 548 in civil WP No : 202/95 had prohibited removal of dead, dying, diseased trees etc. from any National Park and Sanctuary (protected areas). Even removal of grass etc. from National Park and Sanctuaries has been prohibited and as such, any non forestry activity including removal of trees, bamboos, removal of biomass, construction activities etc. in the protected areas are not permissible without proper permission of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

5.         The Govt. of A.P. also informed the Development Advisor (Ports) – GOI that the proposed port at Dugarajapatnam will adversely affect the sea mouth at Kondurupalem and ultimately the inflow of sea water in to the lake and fresh water inlets which bring fresh water in the Pulicat Lake existing at Kondurupalem.

            Therefore the Officers and Authorities in the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India and the Hon’ble Minister of Shipping, having been aware of these matters fully, gave wrong information to the CCEA for its meetings held on 2-5-13 and 9-5-13 and did not bring these Rules and orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and also about the hurdles for setting up of the Port at Dugarajupatnam to the notice of CCEA perhaps purposefully. Instead they projected some aspects as advantages for Dugarajapatnam even by colouring some demerits as advantages and merits. Finally the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India succeeded in getting approval of CCEA for Dugarajupatnam location for establishing the port there, eliminating Ramayapatnam from zone of consideration.

            The Ministry of Shipping, Government of India  could have rather submitted these aspects listed supra relating to environment and security issues of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary and SDSC-SHAR in its Notes to CCEA, by clearly stating  that setting up of port in Dugarajapatnam area is not practically possible according to the report of the Technical Committee, the extant  Rules. and that Ramayapatnam location is the best suitable location deserving approval.

             The Technical Committee also projected in its report about  higher expenditure at Dugarajapatnam location, low availability of export cargo compared to Ramayapatnam, the environment problems, security threats, marshy nature of the land allocated for the port at Dugarajupatnam and  availability of land in pieces and bits at  8 places surrounded by water.

           Further the Technical Committee also reported existence of a shoal (rocky area/hill) in the sea nearby Dugarajapatnam. The ships that venture in to the Port may hit this rocky mountain, get damaged and sink into the sea. This shoal is stated to be 10 miles long located at 6 miles from shore in Dugarajapatnam area as per Report submitted by M/S RITES Ltd, the appointed consultant for the Port. In times of weather aberrations, cyclones and on account of human error there is every possibility of the ships hitting the shoal on any  day due to oversight. It is always advisable to avoid such risk.

            As per the Technical Committee Report, one big Aluminum  Company named M/S Anrak Aluminum Limited,  which is located nearer to Nakkapalli location in Visakhapatnam District, may prefer Ramayapatnam location for its exports to the tune of 4 million tones, because it is nearly 150 km nearer to Ramayapatnam location than Dugarajupatnam location. Had Nakkapalli been selected as Major Port, through that Port the aluminum products would have been exported, as per the Report of Technical Committee.(para 26 (a) of Technical Committee Report).  But it appears that Union Shipping Ministry was bent upon cheating the Public by hiding all these advantages of Ramayyapatnam location from Public and from the CCEA and it projected the matters in favour of Dugarajapatnam location in a surreptitious manner.

            Therefore it can be attributed firmly that the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India avoided presenting many  facts, Rules, Order of Hon’ble Supreme Court, unsuitability of the land allocated for the port at Dugarajapatnam and other aspects listed by the Technical Committee to the CCEA and obtained approval for Dugarajapatnam unmindful of the impending damage to the Pulicat Lake, its flora and fauna and to the 12,500 fishermen who directly live on the lake by catching fish, prawn etc and other 27500 people who indirectly live on the lake by carrying those fish, prawns etc to various places for selling and exporting. M/S RITES Ltd reported in its report that total 40 thousand people are dependant on this lake for their livelihood (Annexure 33).

           

            Due to the Major Port-cum-Ship building Yard, the waters of the Lake will be contaminated resulting in very less yield of Fish, prawns etc. As earlier mentioned, there is likelihood of closing of the mouth of the Lake at Kondurupalem thus affecting the inflow of brackish water in to the Lake, resulting in drying of the Lake in due course of time. The health of those 12500 fishermen will be ruined due to air pollution, apart from the health of scientists and other staff of SDSC-SHAR.  Hence it is evident that the Ministry of Shipping is playing a very dangerous game by overriding the Department of Space, Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Government of Andhra Pradesh, for the best reasons known to itself.

             In spite of all these objections, the Union Shipping Ministry vide Gazette notification dtd 16-9-2013 had notified the boundaries of the port covering the above said villages at Dugarajapatnam location, where the Port should not be established  as per the extant rules (Annexure 14).

            Thus they have eliminated the most suitable location i.e. Ramayapatnam recommended by the Govt. of A.P for establishing the Port from the zone of consideration, ignoring environment problems, security threats to SDSC – SHAR and  by just projecting data of the 4  villages in Dugarajapatnam area. (Where a port cannot be established in any circumstances) However, though approval was obtained for establishing the port in the above said 4 villages at Dugarajapatnam, now the location for establishing the port is shifted to Tupilipalem village, by 3Kms North of Dugarajapatnam since the port cannot be established in the earlier said villages at Dugarajapatnam due to the above mentioned Acts, Rules and earlier orders of Hon’ble  Supreme Court.

            Revised gazette notification was already issued on 2nd January 2004, fixing new boundaries at Tupilipalem. (Annexure 15) At this new place more number of villages and persons have to be resettled. Hiding these facts,  Union shipping ministry and M/s RITES ltd appear to have resorted to fraud on the nation.

            But the Union Shipping Ministry did not change the name of the Port as Tupilipalem Port, perhaps as a part of its manipulations. It is not understood as to why the Union Shipping Ministry did not ask the Technical Committee to study the proposed changed new area at Tupilipalem before notifying the new borders of the port and before making it a law through Gazette Notification dated 2^nd January 2014. 

            After making a law, as a postmortem, the Union Shipping Ministry cleverly included Dugarajupatnam location as Major Port (although the decision on this port was taken well before announcement of “Telangana” state) as an item in the Andhra Pradesh State re organization Bill and as if it is giving a big bonanza to Seemandhra by locating a major port at Dugarajapatnam because of division of the A.P state. Reportedly this was done to protect their wrong decision of selecting Dugarajupatnam, violating the extant Rules and ignoring environemnt threats to Pulicat Lake and security and environment threats to SDSC – SHAR. The CCEA headed by the Honorable Prime Minister of India is having full powers to make laws in the cases of Infrastructure. They already made it a law vide their Gazette Notification dated 16^th Sep 2013. It appears to be a clear manipulation to include old law in the new AP State Reorganisation Bill.

            It appears that some vested interests having been aware of the fact that port can not be established in the said 4 villages i.e. hamlets of Dugarajapatnam falling in the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary limits had pressurized the A P State Govt. in the fag end of 2013 to send recommendation to the MOEF of Central Govt. to make law reducing the Eco Sensitive Zone of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary from the present 10 kms to just 2 kms, or zero level so that the Union Shipping Ministry can occupy it for Major Port.  Therefore these vested interests have even gone to the extent of demanding Govt. of A.P and Govt. of India to de-notify the Pulicat Wild Life Sanctuary to suit their needs but not with a love to protect the Pulicat Lake. Perhaps this sort of things might have not happened in the country so far.

            Shri Cihinta Mohan  Hon’ble Ex M.P seems to have organized and collected signatures from 38 Honorable M Ps of out going parliament on a representation (dtd : 9-12-13) addressed to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India requesting to denotify the Pulicat Bird sanctuary and bring eco-sensitive zone of this sanctuary to zero so as to fecilitate establishing of new industries in the areas adjacent to Pulicat lake (Annxure 16)

            Shri Chinta Mohan, Honorable Ex MP also vide his letter dtd 13-12-13 had informed Sri Samuel ex special secretary to Government of A.P, Environment and Forests (FOR II) department, A.P secretariat Hyderabad, enclosing the above said representation signed by 38 Hon’ble M.Ps stating that the authorities had included huge area under Pulicat Bird sanctuary by mistake in 1976, where as migratory birds numbering only 400 visit Pulicat Lake from Russia every year and stay for a month or two and that very little area is sufficient for other birds.  Citing those reasons, the Honorable Ex M P requested the AP Govt. to send a team to study this issue and to give a report which may be sent to Government of India for taking necessary action. (Annexure 17).

           

            Thus, Sri Chinta Mohan Honorable EX MP, had misrepresented the facts 1) about the total number of birds that visit Pulicat Lake 2) about inclusion of huge area of various villages in the ESZ of Pulicat Lake by fixing the width of protective zone at 5 to 10 km from the boundary of the Pulicat Lake Bird sanctuary. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, GOI itself agreed that several tens of thousands of migratory birds are visiting the Pulicat Lake every year contrary to the figure given by the Honorable Ex MP. The Govt of A.P is adopting  width of 5 to 10 km as ESZ for most of its Sanctuaries  and National Parks since decades, which is evident from the letter of Forest Dept. of Govt of A.P. dated : 5-3-2007 (Annexure18). That being the case, Govt of A.P. has included correct area only in 1976 but not by mistake, as alleged by the Honorable Ex MP. Here the political manipulations are clearly visible to avoid a best suitable location of Ramayyapatnam of Prakasam District of A P, which was declared as 6^th most backward District of United A P and to establish at Dugarajupatnam location just by the side of Green Field Port named Krishnapatnam Port which is running with 10 berths and with 3 more berths under construction.

            Therefore the MOEF without properly examining the matters, Probably under political pressure had issued draft Gazette Notification on 3^rd January 2014 proposing to reduce/fix the Eco Sensitive Zone of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary to just 2 km violating its own commitment made to the Honorable Supreme Court of India through its affidavit submitted in the year 2007 in the case of PIL 460/04. The forest and wild life Authorities of A P Govt. are so far protecting the eco sensitive zone with  10 km width, without allowing any industries, factories etc inside it.  

            The MOEF invited objections/reservations, if any, from the stake holders before 3rd March 2014. (The copy of the Draft Gazette Notification dtd 3^rd  Jan 2014 is enclosed as (Annexure 19) It is learnt that about one thousand people including eminent environmentalists of international repute, wrote to the MOEF not to reduce the presently maintained  10 km ESZ to just 2 km, to facilitate Major Port which would  be the most polluting unit by the side of Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary and the SDSC-SHAR (Annexures 20, 20A & 20B).

            The Dailies in A P State also extensively exposed the moves of the Shipping Ministry for systematically destroying  the 2^nd largest brackish water Lake of India to which the migratory birds visit every year in lakhs. (Few clippings along with English translation are enclosed as (Annexures 21, 21A, 21A1, 21A2, 21A3, 21A4, 21A5, 21A6).

            The Human Rights Forum also opposed reducing eco-sencitive zone of Pulicat Lake to 2Kms. and advised Government not to establish the port at Dugarajapatnam to save the Pulicat Lake.  (Annexure 21 B).

            Thus  although the Dugarajapatnam location is environmentally sensitive as the same falls within the Pulicat Wild Life Sanctuary and in its Eco Sensitive zone, the Union Shipping Ministry wants to occupy  a part of it for Major Port, in spite of better alternative is available to it, perhaps only due to some vested interests which it is having towards that location. M/S RITES Ltd reported that after change of borders also the layout of the Major Port falls in Eco Sensitive Zone as nearer as 200 meters to the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. That means it will occupy 9 km and 8 hundred meters out of the present 10 km ESZ. (Annexure 37 may kindly be referred). Such massive destruction of ESZ is against the judgments of Honorable Supreme Court of India.

            Of late,as reported in one popular Daily, the Ministry of Environment and Forests Govt. of India also had requested Govt. of Andhra Pradesh to inform as to why port is required to be established at Dugarajapatnam when there is already a port 20 Km away at Krishnapatnam and how reduction of ESZ to 2 km  can  offer remedy to the situation of endangering the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. The MOEF requested A P Govt. to suggest  alternate sites.  (Annexure 21C, 21D)

            The L.A & RR costs for this new site at Tupilipalem village were not worked out and placed before the CCEA for comparison with similar data related to Ramayapatnam. The total cost having been projected at Rs. 336 crores only by Govt. of A.P in August 2012 itself which also includes the expenditure for Road and Rail connectivity. Further the distances of 10Mts. and 20Mts contours at Tupilipalem were not worked out / given by RITES specifically but the borders of the port were notified at this place.

             At Tupilipalem i.e the new location,  the Govt. of A.P. is now required to acquire the land of 6000 acres at very high cost which is mostly under cultivation of Aqua farms. One Honorable Ex MP of outgoing Ruling Party is having nearly 1000 acres of land there. (Annexure 22) He started one Registered Firm there in that land named Magunta Aqua Farm Ltd in 1992. He constructed one Bridge, one Reservoir and one Jetty for inflow of sea water through canal type structures in to those lands. But now the Firm is not active. A P Govt. perhaps may have to pay nearly Rs one hundred crores  to him as compensation for 1/5 of his total land there to establish a Port there.

            Similarly two more Registered Aqua Farms are there  with 500 to 600 acres. Huge compensation also is to be paid to these companies  One of them belongs to two sons of Ex MP of outgoing Ruling Party, who few weeks back died. (Annexure 23) The total houses, people and fishermen to be rehabilitated will be much more compared to what was submitted to CCEA on 9-5-13.

            More than, 450 acres of land is to be acquired from farmers from their fields of which  125 acres of land is to be acquired from residents of villagers by relocating them from their houses to have 6 lane road connectivity and about 150 acres for double broad gauge railway tracks to Dugarajapatnam, as per the Report submitted by M/S RITES Ltd. (Annexures 47 & 55).

            The L.A & RR costs to be borne by Govt. of A.P. for Dugarajapatnam port are estimated quite high at about Rs. 2500crores as against Rs. 336crores projected by Govt. of A.P for Ramayapatnam in Agust 2012.

            According to RITES the expenditure for laying 6 lane road for Dugarajapatnam (cost of land of 575acres – Rs. 610crores + laying of road Rs. 240crores) is projected at Rs. 850crores. The cost of double line railway track for 47kms. (land cost of 250acres at Rs. 100crores + Rs. 300crores railway line cost) is coming to about Rs. 400crores.

            Of the total 6000acres required for the port the Govt. land / forest land is projected at arround 1000acres. The cost of aquisition of balance 5000acres is projected at Rs. 1000crores (Rs. 20lakhs for acre i.e. 4 times over the original cost of Rs. 5lakhs /acre, compensiation for structures at Rs. 100crores and rehabilitation cost is estimated at Rs. 150crores).

             Surprisingly this fact of laying lengthy road and lengthy double broad guage railway line for about 40 Km as against 6 Km at Ramayapatnam was also shown by the Union Shipping Ministry as an advantage to Dugarajapatnam location in the Supplementary note put up to CCEA  on 9^th May 2013. (Annexure 11 ). This is nothing but a manipulation on the part of Union Shipping Ministry.

            M/s RITES Ltd Gurgaon further reported that apart from acquiring those earlier said 600 acres of land, the A P Govt has to construct one flyover at railway crossing at a cost of Rs 50 cr and 400 metre bridge at Swarnamukhi river at a cost of Rs 50 cr. (Annexure 55). This position is as per fourth Layout of Port offered by M/S RITES Ltd and as per the new boundaries which moved towards north direction by 3 km. RITES could not prepare a layout in such a way that this Major Port would not occupy ESZ . This position is as per the Report of RITES itself.  (Annexure 32 & 37)

            M/S RITES Ltd having said the land requirement at Tupilipalem as 6000 acres in accordance with new boundaries of the Port, it did not give any Survey numbers nor cost estimates. It did not give any details about the no. of houses to be relocated. It did not give particulars of no. fishermen who will lose their profession.  The Union Shipping Ministry is also not having all these details as per the new layout and new boundaries so far, as per the information it gave in response to one RTI request. (copy of the information it gave in reply to RTI request is enclosed as Annexure 24). The same is the position with the Department of Infrastructure and Investment  of Government of A.P. and District Collector Nellore (Annexures 24A & 24B).

             The Union Shipping Ministry projected one set of data to the CCEA and got approval, but it changed the borders by moving away 3 km towards north direction. Now the data is completely different to that of the previous one. But the Union Shipping Ministry  is not caring to have that changed data. It is not understood as to how the approval given by the CCEA is valid when there is altogether new data to which it did not take approval. Perhaps it is a clear case of manipulation.

            Further it is learnt that one has to face lot of hassles in acquiring land at this new location. It is also reported that sufficient land is not available there. The sea front/water front comes to 2 Km only at Tupilipalem location as backup land.  In such case expansion of the Port will not be possible in future.  At this new location most of the land is patta land belonging to aqua- farmers. More number of people needs to be rehabilitated and compensation needs to be paid for more no. of houses than the earlier projections shown in the reports of Central Technical committee, and in the supplementary note dt : 7-5-13 of Ministry of shipping. (Annexure 11)

            Now the cost of port at Dugarajapatnam (Tupilipalem) escalated to nearly Rs. 12,000 crs, as per the report of M/S RITES Ltd. as against Rs. 7,988crores projected by Technical Committee. There is no approval from DEA or A.P. Govt. or CCEA for this escalated expenditure. Even proper estimate was also not done and there is no approval from A.P. Govt. for this increased LA & RR cost which is going to be its equity in the joint venture.  Everything seems to be a part of manipulations made by the Union shipping ministry.

             The cost of launching one navigational Rocket is Rs 150 Cr. Therefore with three thousand crores of rupees, India can launch 20 such Rockets in to Earth’s orbit. This unwarranted wastage of more than Rs. 3000 Cores of rupees is a fraud on Nation.

 Ramayapatnam is  having better Rail and Road connectivity

            The Ministry of shipping bolstered the position of Dugarajapatnam in it’s supplementary note dt : 7-5-13 and stated that Dugarajupatnam which is located at 35 & 42Kms away to NH-5 and rail link respectively is having better connectivity. But before mentioning this way, it seems that it did not care to compare with that of Ramayyapatnam location.

            It is also submitted that Ramayapatnam is also better connected to NH-5 at following places with Roads and Railway stations.

1.         Thettu – 5Kms –                      NH-5 and Railway station – straight Road

2.         Ulavapadu – 20Kms –            NH-5 and Railway Station – via Reddypalem –

                                                              Alagayapalem – Ulavapadu

3.         Singarayakonda – 25Kms –  NH-5 and Railway Station – via Reddypalem –

                                                              Alagayapalem – Karedu – Singarayakonda   

4.         Kavali – 24Kms –                   NH-5 and Railway Station  via Ravuru – Chevuru

                                                             – NH-5 – Kavali.

            How ever the Central Technical Committee did not bring these matters into the report probably considering that Ramayapatnam is quite nearer to NH-5 and Railway Station by 4.5 to 5Kms at Thettu and hence might have felt that there is no need of listing the above said Road routes and Railway stations located beyond 5Kms distance.

            Therefore the projections of Ministry of Shipping,  Government of India that  Dugarajupatnam is having good connectivity, are entirely wrong and appears to have been given purposefully to boost the position of Dugarajapatnam and to obtain approval from CCEA by way of manipulations.

            However the Ministry of Shipping,  Government of India did not even bother to think about the difficulty in acquiring much more land for laying 6 lane road and  double broad-gauge railway line for a length of 35 – 42 Km and  it did not think about the resultant increased expenditure to A P Govt. in selecting the location of Dugarajupatnam over the location of Ramayapatnam. Whereas the Technical Committee reported this issue of long distance of 35 kms road connectivity from Dugarajapatnam to NH5 and 42Km distance for Rail link as  clear disadvantage.

            It may also kindly be noted that the Ministry of Shipping,  Government of India is not investing in this major port but it is the Visakhapatnam “Port Trust” and Govt. of A.P that are investing in this Joint Venture  or PPP venture. Therefore CCEA straight away should have honoured the recommendation  and preference of Govt. of A.P. in establishing the said major port at Ramayapatnam i.e. in the similar way of agreeing to the recommendation of Govt. of West Bengal, in the case of establishing Major Port at location of Sagar. Instead the Min. of Shipping  selected Dugarajapatnam embedded with invincible environmental and security related problems, perhaps due to political reasons but not basing on healthy technical reasons.

            In the case of Nakkapalli, the Ministry of Shipping , Government of India and CCEA simply agreed to the reservations and objections of Navy listed in the report of the Central Technical Team, besides to the the submissions  of Navy  in the meeting held by Ministry of shipping on 22-8-12 and excluded Nakapalli form consideration, even though it is the best location out of the said 3 locations for establishing the said major port.

            But in the case of Dugarajupatnam location even though SDSC-SHAR is at a distance of 26 km (Even after changing the boundaries), (before changing the boundaries,  the distance between proposed location of Port and SDSC-SHAR is 23 km as per coordinates evaluated  in the Report of Technical Committee) more or less equal to the distance between Nakkapalli location and proposed naval alternative base at Rambilli the MOS & CCEA didn’t consider to drop Dugarjupatnam from consideration. Even though the Govt of AP agreed to the security concerns of the SDSC-SHAR, the Union Shipping Ministry did not consider the request of Department of Space to avoid establishment of Major Port at Dugarajupatnam location. It also blatantly ignored the recommendation of Indian Coast Guard (whose duty is to protect SDSC-SHAR) not to establish a Major Port-cum-Ship building Yard at Dugarajupatnam as it poses security threat to SDSC – SHAR.

            Here a question arises. In what way the strategic installations of SDSC-SHAR are having less importance than those of Alternate Naval Base. It is the greed of some vested interests that perhaps made the Union Shipping Ministry and CCEA to come to such level of ignoring the security concerns and the concerns about air and water pollutions to the scientists and staff of SDSC-SHAR.

NON AVAILABILITY OF EXPORT CARGO TO DUGARAJUPATNAM LOCATION, WHEN THERE IS ALREADY KRISHNAPATNAM PORT, A GREENFIELD PORT VERY NEARBY. RAMAYYAPATNAM LOCATION IS HAVING AMPLE EXPORT CARGO POTENTIAL.

            While selecting a location for establishing any Port, availability of cargo and advantages to the exporters and importers in the hinter land of A.P needs to be studied in detail. This was not done by the Ministry of shipping in this case of Dugarajupatnam. The Technical Committee of Ministry of Shipping,  Government of India in its report submitted in 2012 had reported that as on date, the availability of cargo for Dugarajapatnam port is meager. It reported that there probably will be only  150 containers from the nearby “SRI CITY“ SEZ per month. There are no industries and power plants in and around Dugarajapatnam which generate export cargo and needs imported cargo.

              On the Southern side, Chennai and Ennore major ports are located at about 60 to 90 kms to Dugarajapatnam.Additionally Kattupally and Manali container yards/terminals are existing  40 to 60 kms away - all of which are in Tamilnadu. In the Northern side a functioning green field port just 20kms away at Krishnapatnam in A.P is existing. It is having 10 berths working and 3 berths under construction. As per technical committee report, thermal power stations in Nellore district and some industries in the Sri City etc. had a tie up with Krishnapatnam port. These ports would take care of requirement of existing industries and industries that may come up in the Bangalore – Chennai – Nellore industrial corridor.

          As almost 2 major ports and 3 minor ports exist around Dugarajapatnam location, there is no need to have this major port at Dugarajapatnam that too in the environment sensitive area and posing security and serious pollution threats to SDSC-SHAR.

            The fact is that import of coal and export of iron ore are stopped from Chennai port to avoid air and dust pollution to the people in the Chennai Metro City. Therefore the intention is to shift this pollution to Dugarajapatnam and finish the Pulicat lake by allowing coal imports and exports of iron ore. As per proposal sent to the MOEF recently by the Union shipping ministry, 4 berths on the southern side of the proposed port near by Pulicat lake are meant for coal imports which is a heavy air pollutant.

         In 2011, the Govt. of India desired to establish one major port in W.Bengal and the other in A.P. The Dugarajupatnam in A.P is located nearby the border of Tamilnadu and quite far away to the actual hinter land in A.P. As such it can be said that this Dugarajapatnam port don’t serve much to exporters in A.P.

            The RITES – the agency commissioned by the Visakhapatnam Port Trust for studying the Dugarajapatnam area and submit a Techno-Economic feasibility report, gave a rosy picture about availability of cargo for Dugarajapatnam port and also setting up of lot of industries including power plants, steel plants and cement factories in and around Dugarajapatnam. It also reported that A.P Genco which had already setup a thermal power station at Krishnapatnam would set up power plants based on imported coal at Dugarajapatnam.

            It also said existing power plants in Nellore District and surrounding areas of Dugarajapatnam will import coal through Dugarajapatnam port. It also reported that industries would come up at “TADA” growth center and Naidupeta multy product SEZ. It also reported a good hinter land in the adjoining districts of A.P. and Eastern Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. It added that Govt. of India also agreed to extend Chennai – Bangalore industrial corridor to Dugarajapatnam besides agreeing to port based SEZ at Dugarajapatnam.

            It is not known in which decade the multy product SEZ at Naidupet and growth center at “TADA” shown as a source of cargo for Dugarajapatnam, will generate cargo for export.

            The Statement of RITES that Govt. of India had agreed / approved to establish port based SEZ at Dugarajapatnam is questionable as to how Govt. had approved industrial development in the area of Pulicat wild life sanctuary and its eco sensitive zone. It is also questionable as to how Govt. of India agreed for extending Chennai – Bengalore industrial corridor to Dugarajapatnam i.e. Pulicat wild life sanctuary area and its eco sensitive zone of 10Kms radius from the boundaries of Pulicat lake much against the earlier said orders of Hon’ble Supreme court of India.

            The cargo projections for the next few years for Dugarajupatnam port by RITES are quite surprising and unconvincing. The technical committee reported meager and poor availability of cargo from Nellore and Chitoor Districts to Dugarajupatnam and projected bountiful cargo to Ramayapatnam from Prakasam District. Whereas substantial cargo from Guntur and Krishna Districts which also do not have a port will be available for Ramayapatnam.

            It may also kindly be noted that out of about 20 companies that took licenses and land to establish power plants in and around Krishnapatnam port area, only three established power plants in the last 4 years. No steel or cement factories also came up at Krishnapatnam till date. The rest of the companies are inactive and silent and so is the case with industries in other sector. Therefore projecting so many power plants and other industries at Dugarajapatnam by RITES is nothing but creating an illusion.

            Thus RITES in this area of cargo projections, has reported quite opposite to what was said by the “technical committee”. Therefore the cargo projections by RITES for Dugarajapatnam are without any clarity and basis. The existing major ports at Channai and Ennore and the container terminals / yards at Kattupalli and Manali in Tamilnadu and the Green Field Port at Krishnapatnam in Nellore district – just 20 Kms to Dugarajapatnam port can take care of all the exports and imports in that area for the next 10 years.

            The overall exports currently from Nellore District are at around Rs. 2,000 crores a year. Whereas the annual exports (excluding exports of grain) from Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna Districts are at about 20 Lakhs tons valued at about Rs. 16,000 cr. through Chennai port. All these exports can be routed through Ramayapatnam in Prakasam District if a port is established there which  will not only save crores of Rupees to exporters but also reduce a lot of transit time.

            The objective of Govt. of India seems to deny these benefits to the exporters from Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna Districts in its mission to help handful of big land holders in Dugarajapatnam area to get hundreds of Crores of Rupees as compensation for their sick aqua units which will be acquired for the port at high prices and to help indirectly huge amounts of capital gain for their remaining lands, in the real estate market. Perhaps this might be the way as to how Govt. of India promotes exports!

            The copies of the Aqua companies which have more than 500 – 1000acres of land in Dugarajapatnam are at (Annexures 22 & 23)

         The Govt. of India also has forgotten its bounded duty of minimizing the inland freight costs to the exporters and importers in A.P, by establishing the port at Ramayapatnam rather than troubling them by finalizing the port at Dugarajapatnam.

            The Hyderabad in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh State is the main hub for industries and for exports and imports. All the 10 districts in Telangana area  are land locked and they do not have a Port nearby in Andhra Pradesh for decades .

            As such, for the past 50 years the exporters from Hyderabad and 10 districts of Telangana opted a Port at Mumbai located 720 Kms. away from Hyderabad. About 25-30 Lakh tons of export cargo is moved every year from Hyderabad to Mumbai port by rail for export. Likewise the industries in these areas also depend on these ports at Mumbai, Chennai, Vizag situated at long distances for their imports of machinery, fertilizers, petroleum products, edible oil products etc.

            It is submitted that if Government of India, once establishes a Port at Ramayapatnam as recommended by Govt. of A.P, the distance from Hyderabad will be only 480 Kms. saving crores of Rupees to exporters besides lot of transit time. As submitted earlier the exporters from Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts who are generating exports of various items of 20 Lakh tons a year also would prefer Ramayapatnam, because of nearness to them to the tune of around 130 kms to 200Kms. The import of machinery, fertilizers, POL, edible oils etc. for Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, Kadapa, Kurnool Districts and for all 10 Telangana Districts can be made from Ramayapatnam which saves hundreds of crores of Rupees to exporters / importers and Govt. of India, as these imports are made presently from Ports located far away to the consumption centers.

           The Govt. of India also sanctioned a National Investment Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) for Praksam District which would provide export / import cargo to Ramayapatnam.The industrial growth centre functioning at Gullapalli nearby Ongole, existing tobacco, Chillies and Granite exporters and spinning mills in Guntur & Prakasam districts besides the upcoming industries in Prakasam, Krishna and Guntur district also will provide substantial cargo for Ramayapatnam.

            The exporters associations of the above said items had also represented in writing to all the concerned Hon’ble Central Ministers and Hon’ble Prime Minster and the concerned Secretaries in the Union Govt. besides to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh to establish the said major port at Ramayapatnam instead of at Dugarajapatnam but invain. Copies of their representations are at (Annexures 25, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D & 25E)

          The Govt. of India already sanctioned a new railway line from Nadikudi (in Guntur district) to Srikalahasti via Darsi,Podili, Kanigiri, Pamur in Prakasam District and the survey work was already completed. In this newline, once Podili and Ongole are connected (40kms) the overall distance from Hyderabad to Ramayapatnam would further come down to 380 kms as compared to 720 kms to Mumbai which saves substantial amounts to exporters and importers of Telangana on inland freight costs besides transit time. Ramayapatnam also would be the ideal port for exports / imports for eastern Karnataka area, Nellore, Kadapa, Kurnool Districts in A.P.

            M/S RITES Ltd  also reported in its feasibility report that movement of containerised cargo especially the rocks and granite is taking very long time in Chennai city i.e. about 10-14 hrs. to reach the Port. Most of this cargo is from Prakasam and Guntur districts and a port at Ramayapatnam solves all these problems including traffic congestion on NH-5 from Kavali, to Chennai.

            The RITES could have examined these matters properly and suggested accordingly. In fact it is its duty to give correct details after doing proper study. M/S RITES Ltd utterly failed in its duty perhaps due to lures from vested interests.

At Dugarajapatnam – The expenditure will be significantly high :-

            As for the report of technical committee, the required 20mts. depth contour in the sea is available at less distance i.e. 15.3kms at Ramayapatnam as compared to 17.4kms. at Dugarajapatnam. Therefore the cost of dredging operations would be much less at Ramayapatnam and so is the case with annual maintenance cost. As per Report of Technical Committee, in the area of dredging Rs 2257 Cr have to be spent at Dugarajupatnam location and Rs 1643 Cr have to be spent at Ramayyapatnam. There will be excess expenditure of  Rs 614 Crores in the item of dredging alone at Dugarajupatnam, apart from recurring annual expenditure for maintenance of Dredging.

            The Technical committee also reported that Ramayapatnam is free from environmental sensitive issues and security related problems. The LA & RR costs at Ramayapatnam as per Govt. of A.P would be  at  Rs 336 crores including the expenditure for Rail and road connectivity, (As per the minutes of the meeting dated 22^nd Aug 2012, released by Shipping Ministry – Annexure 2) The LA and RR cost was not estimated so far in the case of Dugarajupatnam location either on the basis of old boundaries or on the basis of new boundaries. It will be around Rs 2000 Cr as per new boundaries. If the difference in cost of dredging is also taken in to account, around Rs 2680 Crores will have to be spent more at Dugarajupatnam location, if not even more.

            Despite all these advantages, the CCEA purposefully dropped the location of Ramayyapatnam even to have the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report for it  even though Ministry of shipping NOTE dt : 15-4-13 (Annexure 12) proposed the techno economic feasibility report for both the locations and arbitrarily favored  to have the same  at Dugarajupatnam, perhaps conspiring with  the vested interests.

            Now with the change of location of the Port  to north of Tupilipalem, the LA & RR costs at Dugarajapatnam are bound to be very high.

            The total area of about 6000 acres allocated/ required for port development covers 12 to 14 villages, more number of houses, people and fishermen. The cost of the land there, is nearly thrice when compared to that of Ramayyapatnam.  The Government also needs to acquire 450acreas of land for 6 lane Road of 40 Kms. from NH-5 to the port and also 150acreas for railway line of about 42 Kms, as compared to 6 Kms for rail and road connectivity in case of Ramayapatnam.

HIGHER R&R COSTS

            For single railway line of 42Kms the Railways had projected the expenditure at about Rs. 300 crores which is almost equal to the total L.A. & RR cost projected by Govt. of A.P. at Ramayapatnam including Rail and road connectivity. It is estimated that about Rs 200 crores easily have to be paid towards compensation alone for  the land and houses to be demolished en-route to the port while laying 6 lane road and railway line, apart from the cost of laying roads and railway line.

            Big bridges over Swarnamukhi river for roads and railway line up to the port and flyover also have to be constructed incurring huge expenditure of about Rs. 150 crores. The total expenditure for the port at Dugarajapatnam area projected by technical committee at Rs. 7,988crores is now expected to go up to Rs. 12,000 crores, because of change in the boundaries of the location to Tupilipalem. This is as against Rs. 7,200 crores projected at Ramayapatnam. It is thus apparent that the Ministry of Shipping and Govt. of India are squandering away about Rs 4000 crores by selecting Dugarajapatnam for the said major port.

            The RITES submitted its feasibility report in August, 2013. There after the Ministry of Shipping,  Government of India had a meeting with the stake holders and fixed the boundaries of Dugarajapatnam port and notified the same vide Gazette notification dated 16-9-13 (Annexure 14) As this port area approved by the CCEA is falling in the area of Pulicat wild life sanctuary, Ministry of Shipping  Govt. of India again revised the boundaries of the port moving further to North of Dugarajapatnam and notified new boundaries vide notification dated 2-1-14 (Annexure 15).

            Even according to these new boundaries, a part of the port area in the south side and the anchorage area is falling in the Pulicat Bird sanctuary limits even after Govt. of India resorting to reduce the protection limit of eco sensitive zone from 10kms to 2kms.

            Evidently the Govt. of AP and Govt of India at this point of time are resorting to reduce the protection zone to 2kms from that of existing 5 and 10kms only for Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, when more than 27 such sanctuaries are existing in A.P. (Annexure 18) .

Determination to destroy Nature

            It is really surprising as to why the Govt. of India is trying to break the Laws instead of enforcing the extant Laws, Rules, Regulations and stipulations to protect the environment and the God given Nature, that too when a more suitable and advantageous alternate location is readily available.

 VERY LESS SEA FRONT AT DUGARAJUPATNAM LOCATION

            According to the Executives of the Krishnapatnam port (Video in the You tube) the sea front/ water front available for Krishnapatnam  Port is 12 Km.

            This Green Field Port is already having 10 berths and another 3 berths are under construction. The executives of Krishnapatnam port also say that they can go for 32 berths more in by making the draft i.e. depth of the sea up to 20 mts. from the existing depth of 18 mts and would make Krishnapatnam as the biggest Port in India and one of the biggest ports in the World.

            It is humbly submitted that it is nearly impossible to establish a world class major port at Dugarajapatnam with more number of berths with only 2 to 2.5 Km of water front and again with a provision of 0.8 Km in it for ship building unit.

            Therefore the Dugarajupatnam port, in the given circumstances may not match even with the Green Field Port existing just 20 Km away at Krishnapatnam which can go for total 42 berths in due course of time with its  lengthy 12 Km sea/water front.

DISEASES TO THE 12500 FISHERMEN OF PULICAT LAKE AND TO 6000 SCIENTISTS AND STAFF OF SDSC-SHAR AND ALSO TO LAKHS OF MIGRATORY BIRDS DUE TO AIR AND WATER POLLUTION.

            Krishnapatnam port mainly handled iron ore and coal. It had got a reputation of dusty and dirty port due to handling of these two items. It may also kindly be noted that the surrounding villages of Krishnapatnam port also becoming dusty and dirty on account of the coal dust and iron ore dust. Villagers have complained to the Central Empowered Committee of Supreme Court of India that they are developing allergy, skin diseases and even hair fall of their heads due to the air and water pollution caused by this coal and iron ore dust. The CEC sent 3 member committee to study these pollution related issues of Krishnapatnam Port.

            Therefore if a port is established at Dugarajapatnam, this sort of dust pollution from coal and iron ore will cause substantial pollution to the Pulicat lake and to the Lake bird sanctuary endangering the flora and fauna in the lake besides the 12500 fishermen who come regularly to this Lake for fishing and also to the staff and scientists of SDSC-SHAR. The dust from the coal and iron ore in the air of the atmosphere will affect the birds-flying- way, which may drive away all those birds who visit Pulicat lake from different areas / states / countries

            Iron ore exports cause severe pollution. The Coal imports for power plants through Dugarajapatnam cause heavy pollution to the Pulicat Lake and in the Pulicat wild life sanctuary endangering the flora and fauna in the lake. The fluids (slurry) from Power plants also cause heavy pollution to Pulicat lake once established at Dugarajapatnam. The slurry waste from power plant at Ennore port is already causing a lot of pollution to the Pulicat lake with a telling impact on the Birds and leading to siltation, even though Ennore is at a distance of 61 km from this Lake.

SELECTION OF DUGARAJUPATNAM LOCATION IS AGAINST COMMITMENT MADE BY INDIA IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS TO PROTECT MIGRATORY BIRDS AND THEIR FLYING WAYS.

            India is committed to protect the flying routes of the migratory birds. It is  signatory to International Conventions to this effect. Now it is violating its commitments. Some foreign countries like Norway, Australia, Netherlands etc may file suit against India in the International Court of Hague, if India goes ahead with its sinister plan to construct Major Port-Cum-Ship Building Yard nearer to Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.

            It is also respectably submitted that 4 berths in the southern side of this notified port limits are allocated for coal imports. It is also proposed to construct another 2 berths in the southern side of the port for import of coal and hazardous chemicals. The southern side of the port is situated just close to the Konduripalem creek of the Pulicat lake and the coal and hazardous chemicals are most likely to be spilled over into waters and enter into  the Pulicat Lake through the creeks at Konduripalem and Chinathota nearby Dugarajapatnam. It is most likely that this will cause severe pollution to the Pulicat lake thus endangering the flora and fauna therein.

Security threat to Satish Dhawan Space Centre-SHAR

            The world famous Satish Dhawan Space Center – SHAR is located in Sriharikota – an uninhabited island in the midst of world famous Pulicat Lake located in SPSR Nellore District of A.P. The proposed port location at Dugarajapatnam – a small fishermen village on the fringe of Pulicat Lake is within 23 kms distance to SDSC – SHAR as stated by the Technical committee.

            The secretary Department of Space of GOI Bangalore wrote a letter bearing no.Do.No.E 12015/3/2012-SEC IV   on 18^th April 2012 to the Secretary of Union Shipping Ministry communicating their apprehensions and objections to a port at Dugarajupatnam and requested the later to exclude Dugarajupatnam location from consideration for establishment of Green Field Major Port-cum-Ship Building Centre, citing four reasons.

1)                 The maritime domain will witness an increased merchant traffic within the waterfront approaches of very sensitive SDSC-SHAR.

2)                 The Ship Building Yard will attract foreign and Indian traders which is considered as severe security threat to the SDSC-SHAR.

3)                 The approaches and the anchorage area will be within the launch pad’s danger zone.

4)                 The Ship Building industry will cause severe environmental threat to the area of Pulicat and Sriharikota in general.

            The Secretary of Space Department further stated in the same letter (copy enclosed at Annexure 26) that they consulted the Indian Coast Guard in this issue and that ICG recommended against Dugarajupatnam location stating the above cited reasons. He enclosed those recommendations of Indian Coast Guard to his letter written to the Secretary of Shipping Ministry, GOI. (The recommendations of Indian Coast Guard are obtained with the help of RTI Act and the same is enclosed as Annexure 26A).

            The Government of A.P concurred with the points raised by the Secretary of Space Department besides with the report of the technical committee and accordingly excluded the Dugarajapatnam and recommended for Ramayapatnam location to Ministry of Shipping, GOI (Annexure 3).

            But the Union Shipping Ministry did not give importance to this letter of Indian Coast Guard and to that of Space Department perhaps due to political and vested reasons and did not initiate action for about 7 months to obtain approval  of CCEA for establishing the port at Ramayapatnam. Instead it made some correspondence with Department of SPACE and perhaps coerced its Secretary to dilute the latter’s stand. The Space Department stated vide its letter dt : 11-12-12 (Annexure 27) that port at Dugarajapatnam may be established subject to 5  conditions.

            But the Union Ministry of Shipping did not fulfill  those  five conditions. Not withstanding  this, the Ministry of shipping took it granted that the department of SPACE had agreed to Major Port-cum - Ship building Yard at Dugarajapatnam and put up notes to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 15^th April 2013 (Annexure 12) stating that  Department of SPACE had agreed for port at Dugarajapatnam and hence a Techno Economic Feasibility Report  can be obtained from M/S RITES Ltd for Dugarajapatnam also repeat also along with Ramayapatnam.

            The Ministry of shipping stated in its supplementary note dt : 7-5-13 that CCEA after detailed discussions on 2-5-13 on the port in A.P. had expressed views in favour of port at Dugarajapatnam. Accordingly in its supplementary note dt : 7-5-13 (Annexure 11) it added certain points relating to LA & RR cost and said these are quite advantageous  to Dugarajapatnam port and got approval for Dugarajupatnam location and also got approval for dropping Ramayyapatnam location from competition.

            This approval given was to take up preparatory works till submission of Techno-Economic Feasibility report, but not for issuing Gazette Notification about Port limits.  Moreover, it distorted the facts and put up those notes mentioning that the Space Department has agreed for establishing Major Port at Dugarajupatnam location, imposing 5 conditions. Thus the Union Shipping Ministry started its manipulations in favour of Dugarajupatnam location.

            The Department of Space – Government of India which communicated its apprehensions and objections to have a port at Dugarajapatnam on security problems, vide its letter dated 18-4-12 (Annexure 26) reiterated the same in the meeting chaired by the Secretary Shipping GOI on 22-8-12, and again confirmed this stand of security threat to SDSC-SHAR vide their letter dtd 31.10.12 (Annexure 5) by stating that the Dugarajapatnam port area falls within the launch risk zone. In the meeting dated 22-08-2012, the representative of Navy also objected for the port at Nakkapalli.

            The Ministry of shipping while agreeing with the recommendation of Indian Navy, how ever made certain correspondence with Dept.of Space vide letters dated 8-10-12 and 15-11-12 seeking certain clarifications, rather than submiting proposals to CCEA in September 2012 it self seeking approval for setting up of port at Ramayapatnam.

            Sri A. Vijay Anand, the Joint Secretary Department of Space responding to letters of Ministry of shipping addressed a letter dated 11-12-12 (Annexure 27) informing Ministry of Shipping, Government of India   that they had under taken a study to delineate the launch risk zones within which the port and anchorages should not come, in the event of permission for Dugarajapatnam location for setting up of the port is granted. The Department of space had divided the Launch Risk Zone as high risk zone comprising of the danger zone I and danger zone II.

Limit of Launch Risk Zone – indicated in red ink in the enclosed map.

A.     Danger Zone  I – which is within a radius of 20Kms from launch pad, where in the fragments of the launch vehicle are likely to fall during a failure in the initial phase of the mission.

B.      Danger Zone II – which is within a radius of 30Kms from launch pad, and bounded with the limits of launch risk zone (indicated in red colour in the map) where in fragments of the launch vehicle are likely to fall in case of a failure during ascend phase of the mission.

            He also mentioned there in, that their study indicates that Dugarajapatnam is nearly 10Kms away from the High risk zone in Northern direction. Stating this, he informed that the Dept. of Space would agree to grant clearance for the proposed major port at Dugarajapatnam subject to the conditions listed below.

Condition No. 1 : Proviso 3.1 ………. Presently 5 to 6 launches per year are planned. A notification in the form of Notices to Airman-NOTAM and “Notices to Mariners” will be issued about 45 days prior to any launch. No ships are allowed to pass through the high risk zone as well as launch corridor during the launch period.

Condition No. 2 : Proviso 3.2  No permanent activity, what so ever is allowed to take place in the high risk zone as mentioned above.

Condition No. 3 : Proviso 3.3  Radio frequency interferences with range operations at Sriharikota shall not be allowed. In order to ensure this, the Port authorities shall do necessary co-ordination with the designated officer of the Dept.of Space from time to time.

Condition No. 4 : Proviso 3.4  Dept. of Space has no liability for loss in case of debris due to failure of launch vehicle falling in the Dugarajapatnam port area

Condition No. 5 : Proviso 3.5 Arrangements for coastal security of Sriharikota range has to be ensured by the Coast Guard.

              It was also stated / shown there in (also in the enclosed map) the said letter that Ennore port is about 30 Kms from the High risk zone (Danger zone II) in the southern direction which means it is away by 60 Kms from the launch pad. Further the Ennore port is also away by about 10 Kms from the limit of launch risk zone. Thus the Ennore port is 60 kms away from the launch pad but whereas Dugarajapatnam is about 23 Kms away from the launch pad as shown in the map submitted by Dept. of Space. But however it is not 10 kms away to high risk zone as stated by Department of Space since High Risk Zone includes danger zone ii also, with a radius of 30Kms from the launch pad. This 30Kms radius covers the port area  and anchorage area in the sea at Dugarajupatnam area and nearby Tupilipalem.

            The Dept. of Space can not equate the Dugarajapatnam located about  10 kms away from danger zone I with that of Ennore which is 10 kms away from the limit of launch risk zone. Thus the letter dtd 11.12.12 of Dept .of Space, perhaps  given under pressure is reportedly a twisted & deceptive one to facilitate granting clearance to Dugarajapatnam Port from their side which is in contrast to their own earlier confirmation vide letter dated 18-4-12 & 31.10.12 that Dugarajapatnam is “within the launch risk zone”.

            But the Union Shipping Ministry did not give importance to the letter dated 2-9-12 of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and put up notes  to the CCEA on 15-4-2013 stating that Department of space vide its letter dated 11-12-12 had revised its earlier stand by stating that as per their study the Dugarajapatnam is about 10 Kms away to High Risk Zone and they would grant clearance to Dugarajapatnam port subject to 5 conditions which are also being adopted in the case of Ennore port. The Deparment of SPACE softened it’s stand only after Sri Chinta Mohan organised a representation to Hon’ble Prime Minister signed by about 38 Hon’ble M.P’s on 22-11-12.

            The Ministry of Shipping sought approval for commissioning Techno-Economic feasibility report both for Ramayapatnam and Dugarajapatnam. According to the supplementary NOTE dt : 7-5-13 of Min. of Shipping, the CCEA in its meeting on 2-5-13 discussed in detail and preferred Dugarajapatnam and requested the ministry of shipping to put up additional material. However as per Min. of Shipping there were no minutes recorded for this important meeting / discussions on establishing a major Port in A.P in the CCEA Meeting held on 2-5-13 which was chaired by the then hon’ble Prime Minister. (Annexure 27A).

            Though detailed discussions were said to have been held on 2-5-13 in the CCEA meeting, on major port in A.P., nothing was recorded on what grounds the CCEA had turned down the proposal of Govt. A.P. recommending  establishing of the said major port at Ramayapatnam and what are those real advantages and reasons considered by the CCEA to favor Dugarajupatnam for establishing the port there and the reasons for ignoring the security aspects of SDSC – SHAR and for taking decision  to  establish right in the pulicat sanctuary against the extant Rules and earlier orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. In a reply to RTI question, Ministry of Shipping stated that no meeting of CCEA was held on 2-5-13 to discuss on setting up of major port in A.P. i.e. at Dugarajapatnam contrary to what it said in it’s supplementary note dt : 7-5-13 (Annexure 11 & 27B). Everything appears to  have been done by the CCEA at the direction of Smt. Soniya Gandhi the President of UPA.

            The Ministry of Shipping in its supplementary note dated 7-5-13 presented the information given at points 1 to 4 in page no 6 of this note by distorting the facts and obtained approval of Dugarajupatnam location for port establishment and got approval for dropping Ramayapatnam location from competition. The CCEA also gave approval to complete preparatory works up to obtaining the Techno Economic feasibility report for Dugarajapatnam location but not for issuing Gazette Notification fixing boundaries of the Port. (the copies of the notes of Union Shipping Ministry for CCEA meeting are enclosed as (Annexure 11 & 12)

            While doing this, the Ministry of Shipping distorted the facts and put up the note to CCEA mentioning that the Space Department has agreed for establishing Major Port at Dugarajapatnam location, imposing 5 conditions. Thus the Union Shipping Ministry started its manipulations in favour of Dugarajapatnam location and it did not place several matters / issues which are not in favour of Dugarajapatnam before the CCEA on 2-5-13 and 9-5-13. These issues are discussed in the subsequent paras.

            Security threat to SDSC – SHAR and High risk zone for launching rockets are of 2 different issues.

One can easily understand that there will be no danger to SDSC-SHAR out of Rocket launches, because the angles of launching will be arranged in such a way that on the failure of any launching, the rockets will fall in the sea, perhaps on some ships if they are in launch- risk zone or danger zone.

The security threat is from some of the foreigners and Indians who will be loitering in thousands, nearby the Sriharikota island throughout the year, once the Major Port–cum-Ship Building Yard is established. This is as per the first letter written by the Secretary of Space Department and also as per the recommendations of Indian Coast Guard. The Union Shipping Ministry played a dangerous game here. Either Union Shipping Ministry or the PMO seems to have pressurized the Space Department to dilute the four points raised in the Space Department’s letter dated 18^th April 2012.

It is worth noting here that the Space Department is directly working under the control of the Honorable Prime Minister of India. But even then, the Deputy Secretary to the GOI, Department of Space wrote letter bearing no.12015/3/2012-Sec.IV dtd on 31^st October 2012 (Annexure 5) addressed to the Ministry of Shipping (Ports Wing) stating to read the sentence as, “Department of Space expressed reservations on Dugarajupatnam, as it posed a security threat to SDSC-SHAR,  being situated within the launch risk zone.  From this sentence, it is clear that the Department of Space is consistent in saying that (1) there is security threat to SDSC-SHAR, because of Dugarajupatnam location for Major Port (2) The location is in launch risk zone. That means when the Rockets fail during launching, there is possibility of those falling on the Ships.  

However, vide their letter dated 11^th December 2012, the Space Department softened its stand to some extent, without going back on their consistent  stand about 1) security threat to their installations and to their staff and scientists from some foreigners and Indians. 2) and also they did not go back from their opposition to the “serious environmental threat” to SDSC-SHAR. (Copy of the letter from Joint Secretary of Department of Space bearing no.12015/3/2012-SEC.IV dated 11^th December 2012 is enclosed as (Annexure 27).

The Department of Space  perhaps succumbed to the pressure exerted on them by some unknown people  to agree for establishment of Major Port at Dugarajupatnam location and finally wrote this letter dated 11^th Dec 2012 agreeing to the Dugarajupatnam location for establishment of Major Port, but imposed 5 important conditions vide para 3 of the same letter, which are literally impracticable. Further the Ministry of Shipping also did not dwell on these aspects of security and environmental threat to SDSC – SHAR in its NOTES to CCEA dated 15-4-13 and 7-5-13, apparently with a purpose.

STOPPAGE OF TOTAL WORK AT THE MAJOR PORT AT DUGARAJUPATNAM FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS IN EACH YEAR.

Condition no. 1  imposed vide para no.3.1 :-   All the activities of Port should be halted completely during the period of launching of each Rocket. Even though the period of stoppage is not mentioned in this letter, the Technical Committee Report mentioned that 54 hours is the period of stopping ( Page no 6 of Chapter 1. of the Technical report is enclosed as (Annexure 28 ).

Recently one navigational Rocket was launched into the Earth’s orbit. The count down was for a period of 58 hours 30 minutes, that means nearly two and half days.

Only 5 to 6 launches per annum were shown in this letter. But ISRO Authorities projected that in future they are making Plans to launch 12 Rockets per annum from the year 2017 onwards. The Sakshi news paper (the second largest circulated Telugu Daily of A P) reported on  27^th Jan 2014 that the Director of SDSC-SHAR Padmasri Dr M Y S Prasad held a press conference on 26^th Jan 2014 on the eve of celebrations of Republic Day of India and stated that ISRO is making plans to launch 12 Rockets per annum from 2017 onwards.(the clipping of Sakshi Daily dated 27^th Jan 2014 and others are enclosed as (Annexure 29, 29A & 29B). The Department of Space gave information under RTI Act that it is planning to launch 12 rockets per annum from the year 2018 (Annexure 30)

After success of Chandrayan 1 and Mangalyan 1, so many foreign countries are placing demand on ISRO to launch their satellites in to Earth’s orbit. The Major Port at Dugarajupatnam location is scheduled to be completed by the year 2018. Through this information, it is clear that all the activities of the Port should be halted at least 30 days in each year (12 launches multiplied with 2.5 days).  If any snag develops or if the atmosphere turns hostile during the countdown, the shipping activities have to be halted until the snags are cleared and until the atmosphere becomes favourable. In any case, the Shipping activity should be halted for a period of around 45 days in each year. If such is the case, due to stoppage of work at Port for so many days, lakhs of man days will be lost.  For any layman this position appears to be impracticable. But the Shipping Ministry is turning a blind eye to this position, for the best reasons known to itself and is keeping mum without solving this condition.

Condition no.2   3.2    No permanent activity, what so ever, is allowed to take place in the High Risk Zone as mentioned above.  There is no clarity as to what is meant by permanent activity or temporary activity. None the less the 4 villages i.e. hamlets of Dugarajapatnam fall well within the high risk zone. As such how the Ministry of shipping took it granted that department of SPACE had agreed to establish port at Dugarajapatnam and how it broached the matter accordingly to CCEA and obtained approval for port in these villages. It is also evident that the CCEA had approved for port at Dugarajapatnam without examining these matters and conditions of Department of SPACE besides the security of the SDSC – SHAR. Apparently the political pressure from the UPA chairperson might be the reason for according this approval by the CCEA even ignoring the national interest of providing security to the vital and strategic installations at SDSC – SHAR.

 Condition No.3  3.3 proviso :     Radio frequency interferences with Range operations at Sriharikota shall not be allowed. It is a well known fact that the foreign ships use Radio frequency. On one hand Space Dept. is agreeing for moving of foreign ships at its proximity and on the other hand it is  putting a condition to the Union Shipping Ministry to control foreign ships from intercepting the radio signals of SDSC-SHAR.  It is practically not possible for Union Shipping Ministry to control the Radio frequencies of foreign ships, which come nearby to SDSC-SHAR.

            It means many activities of SDSC-SHAR will depend upon the efficiency of Port’s Authorities in controlling the foreign ships from using radio signals which may intercept the radio signals of SDSC-SHAR. It is clear from all these correspondence between Department of Space and Union Shipping Ministry, that the SDSC-SHAR Authorities agreed for Major Port reluctantly, being under duress. The people watching these movements say that only through proper enquiry by agencies like CBI or Lokpal, truth may be unraveled to know who are the real culprits working this way against the world famous SDSC-SHAR.

Citing grounds of safety and security, Department of Space had maintained for years that there was a vulnerability of radio frequency interference as well as risk of space debris, falling on any installations that come up for exploration.

Radio frequency interference (RFI) is the radiation or conduction of radio frequency energy or electronic noise produced by electrical and electronic devices at levels that interfere with the operation of adjacent equipment. Such disturbance may interrupt, obstruct, or otherwise degrade or limit the effective performance of the circuit. These effects can range from a simple degradation of data to a total loss of data. The source may be any object, artificial or natural, that carries rapidly changing electrical currents, such as an electrical circuit etc., RFI can be intentionally used for radio jamming, as in some forms of electronic warfare, or can occur unintentionally, as a result of spurious emissions for example through inter-modulation products, and the like.

An electrical or electronic device emits RFI in two ways :-

1.         Radiated RFI is emitted directly into the environment from the equipment itself.

2.         Conducted RFI is released from components and equipment through power line cord into the AC power line network. This conducted RFI can affect the performance of other devices on the same network.

            Department of Space all-through held that coastal security of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre must be ensured not to have radio frequency interference in its operations and held that the prohibited area cannot be modified, as it is derived based on the rocket launch criteria.

            Radio frequency interferences with range operations at Sriharikota cannot be permitted. It is well known that once the commercial operations at the port are commenced, foreign ships using radio frequency would be entering the port. Consequently, radio signals at the SHAR would be interfered and intercepted either intentionally or un-intentionally by the foreign ships etc., resulting in a major and severe threat to the very functioning of the SDSC – SHAR.

            Foreign vessels visiting port would also pose a severe security threat to the SHAR space centre as all critical data base would be exposed to all the nations falling in the satellite footprint. Transporting sensitive data may have ramifications on the National security environment.

Condition No.4  3.4 proviso  :   Department of Space has no liability for loss in case of debris due to failure of Launch Vehicle falling in the Dugarajupatnam Port area. As per the information received with the help of RTI Act 2005, it is known that the Union Shipping Ministry also did not give any written undertaking to the Space Department on these conditions. (Annexure 31)

            The Department of Space also stated in reply to a RTI question that it did not give any NOC (No Objection Certificate) to the Union Shipping Ministry for establishment of Major Port at Dugarajupatnam location. If no Department takes responsibility and owns liability, in case any fireballs from the debris fall on the Port or any Ship or Ships, on whom the responsibility is to be fixed. Copies of the information given through RTI Act 2005 are enclosed as (Annexure 31) As there is risk of falling debris/ fire balls on Ships, the Department of Space put this precondition. But it is evident that the Union Shipping Ministry is going ahead unilaterally without fulfilling the preconditions put forth.

            There is one Indian cinema titled, “Nobody killed Jessica”. In the same way, “nobody owned responsibility or liability” slogan may perhaps be floated in case of such accidents in launchings of Rockets at SDSC-SHAR.

Condition No. 5  :3.5 proviso :   Arrangements for coastal security of Sriharikota Range has to be ensured by the Indian Coast Guard. It is not known as to how Shipping Department will ensure security of SDSC-SHAR. The same Union Shipping Ministry is paying a deaf ear to the repeated requests made by the Space Department not to establish any Port at Dugarajupatnam location. It also is blatantly ignoring the recommendations made by the Indian Coast Guard, i.e. not to establish any port at Dugarajapatnam in view of security threat to SDSC - SHAR as detailed in the previous paragraphs. But on the other hand Min. Shipping and CCEA recommended setting up of Port at Dugarajupatnam and putting the burden of ensuring security of SDSC-SHAR on the Indian Coast Guard which  recommended against establishing port at Dugarajupatnam.

UPHILL TASK TO INDIAN COAST GUARD TO PROTECT INSTALLATIONS AND SCIENTISTS OF SDSC-SHAR.

            It will be uphill task to the Indian Coast Guard to protect the installations of SDSC-SHAR, because Ships and thousands of foreigners  will be moving on land and on sea, very nearer to Sriharikota.

            The north boundary of Sriharikota is within 10 kms from new boundaries of Dugarajupatnam location. The SDSC-SHAR is within 26 kms from the new boundaries of Port location. But the Space Department erred in their letter dated 11^th Dec 2012, by stating that Dugarajupatnam location will be  in its North direction just like Ennore Port in its South Direction. The           Ennore Port is 61 kms away from SDSC-SHAR as per Report of Technical Committee, whereas Dugarajupatnam new location is at 26 kms away from SDSC-SHAR and the north boundary of Sriharikota is within 10 kms from the proposed Major Port. This comparison made by the Space Department with Ennore Port will not stand   scrutiny.  As such Department of Space can not equate Dugarajupatnam with Ennore Port, for applying same Rules and Conditions which were applied in the case of Ennore port as there is no comparison in the distances.  Such type of sentences might have been used perhaps due to illegal pressure on them from some power centers and vested interests, just to appease the vested interests of some people who are behind these ugly moves.

UNPATRIOTIC ACT

            It is unpatriotic and against national interest to keep the strategic installations of SDSC-SHAR in a perennial security threat. India has witnessed several incidents of terrorists’ barbaric attacks on innocent people. After the success of Chandrayan 1 and Mangalayan 1, SDSC-SHAR has become one of the most important strategic institutions of India, just like NASA to USA.

Thus it is against national interest to install one of the most polluted units at its vicinity, thus creating dirty environment to the staff and those famous scientists of SDSC-SHAR, let alone to the lakhs of voiceless migratory birds in the Pulicat Lake. M/s RITES Ltd reported about various types of pollution and the degrees of pollution, that a Major Port-cum-Ship Building Centre will cause, in its Chapter Environment. (Some of those pages are enclosed as (Annexures 40, 41 & 42)

It is again submitted that this case deserves an investigation as to know who pressurized the Space Department to agree for establishment of Major Port, even though with preconditions and what are the interests of those pressurizing persons, in Dugarajupatnam location. (Copy of the letter from Space Department dated 11^th Dec 2012 is enclosed as (Annexure  27)

       The new Dugarajapatnam port area (Tupilipalem) is 23 – 26 Km from SHAR where as Nakkapalli port area is 25 to 28 Km to the proposed NAVAL alternate operating base at Ramballi. When Nakkapalli area was dropped from zone of consideration by Ministry of Shipping and CCEA, considering the recommendations of NAVAL authorities that port would pose security threat to its  proposed strategic installations i.e. NAVOB at Ramballi, how the Ministry of Shipping and CCEA  had ignored and brushed aside the recommendations of Dept. of Space made vide its letters and representations dated 18-4-12, 22-08-2012 and 31-10-12 to drop Dugarajapatnam from consideration for establishing the port there, as it poses security threat to SDSC-SHAR. The Ministry of Shipping and CCEA  also ignored recommendation of Dept. of Space that the proposed ship building unit would cause severe environment threat to Pulicat lake and SDSC -SHAR. They also have ignored the recommendations of Indian Coast Guard. (Annexure 26A)

            According to the Central Technical Committee of Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, the distance from SHAR at Sri Harikota to Dugarajapatnam is 23Kms. According to Dept. of Space, the danger zone I is within a radius of 20 Kms from the launch pad. As such the anchoring area of Dugarajapatnam location will be 3 Km away from the danger zone I but well within the high risk zone as the radius of danger zone II is 30 Kms from the launch pad.

            Thus Dugarajapatnam port area and anchorage area fall well within the danger zone II with 30 Km radius. Therefore the statement of Dept. of Space that Dugarajapatnam is away by 10 Kms to High Risk zone is not correct and was given purposefully or under pressure to favour establishment of port at Dugarajapatnam.. Even the new location Tupilipalem which is located 3 Kms North to Dugarajapatnam also falls within the Danger Zone II ie. High Risk Zone and launch risk zone.

            The Ministry of Shipping did not place the map sent by Dept. of Space showing risk zones (Danger zone - i, Danger zone - ii and launch risk zone) before the CCEA for explaining their reasoning  as to how the Port at Dugarajupatnam will not come under High risk zone. Perhaps, this was done purposefully. All this information is gathered with the help of RTI Act 2005. It is authentic informnation.

            At the time of launching of Rockets by SDSC–SHAR, berthing of ships will be delayed notably during these days and therefore exporters/importers have to pay demurrages for their cargo due to halt in the work and also because of the reason that the ships are made to wait 40-50 kms away from the anchorage area of the Port for 3 to 4 days during the times of launching of Rockets at SDSC-SHAR.  This would result in additional expenditure for the ships to be borne ultimately by the exporters/ importers.

            In case the launch is postponed for 2 to 3 days owing to certain technical snags or sudden hostile weather, demurrage charges for the importers/exporters will soar high. Perhaps this sort of situation is not witnessed in any Port in the World.  

            The Ministry of shipping had not brought these losses and aspects to the notice of CCEA while seeking approval for port at Dugarajapatnam in the meetings held on 2-5-13 and 9-5-13, as it may perhaps affect their sinister plan of securing port at Dugarajapatnam location at any cost.

CAPITAL GAINS TO THE TUNE OF THOUSANDS OF CRORES TO 3 ACQUACULTURE FIRMS AT DUGARAJUPATNAM.

            The above detailed narration proves with documentary evidence that the Union Shipping Ministry notified Dugarajupatnam location as Major Port, against national interest, against public interest, against interests of Mother Nature etc and in favour of some vested interests who will be benefitted thousands of crores of rupees through capital gains for their vast lands located adjacent to Dugarajupatnam location.

            The LA & RR expenditure to be borne by Govt of AP at Dugarajupatnam are now estimated to increase steeply to 2700 crs as against its earlier estimated expenditure of Rs. 336 crs at Ramayapatnam location.

            . The Govt of AP  is requested to reconsider the impending damage to the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary and its huge flora & fauna  on account of setting up of Major Port-cum-Shipbuilding yard  at Dugarajupatnam location. It is worth pointing out here that M/S RITES limited reported that the Port will occupy 9,800 meters of the present Eco Sensitive Zone and will be at a distance of only 200 meters from the border of the Sanctuary. (Annexure 37 may please be revisited )

           

            Therefore it is humbly requested to kindly re-examine the whole matter in light of the vast authentic information submitted in paras supra.  The NDA Govt. is also requested now  to review the above said issues thoroughly and to take appropriate decision deemed fit, in national interest,  public interest and towards sustainable development and definitely not towards irrevocable destructive development.

           

                                    With kind regards,

                                                                                                            Yours faithfully,

Address:-                                                                                                       

Maruthi Nilayam                                                                               (M. Maruthi Rao)

2/6 Brodipet,                                                                                        Manager (Rtd)

Guntur-522 002.                                                                               Tobacco Board, GOI.

Andhra Pradesh.                                                                                           For

Cell : 8374312555                                                        Prakasam Zilla Abhivrudhi vedhika

E-mail : marella99@gmail.com

              marella99@hotmail.com

                                                                                              

The Above report was sent to following dignitaries & Hon'ble ministers  list below:

1. Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu Garu, Hon’ble C.M – A.P

2. Sri IYR Krishna Rao, IAS, Chief Secretary

3. Sri C.S. Rao, IAS, Economic Advisor to CM

4. Sri D. Sambasivarao IAS` Principal Secy. Infrastructure and Investment.

5. Sri Ajay Kallam, IAS, Finance Secretary

6. Sri M.T. Krishna Babu, IAS, Chairman Port Trust, Vizag.

7. Sri Sidda Raghava Rao Garu, Hon’ble Minister A.P.

8. Smt. D. Purandeswari

9. Sri Kambhampati Hari Babu Garu, Hon’ble M.P.

10. Sri Nithin Gatkari Garu, Hon’ble Minister Shipping, GOI.

11. Sri Javadevakar Garu, Hon’ble Minister Forest & Environments, GOI.

12. Sri Chatarji, IAS, Secretary Min. of Forest & Environment, GOI.

13. Additional Secretary – Min. of Forest & Environment, GOI.

14. Sri P.K. Mishra, IAS Rtd., Additional Principal Secretary to Hon’ble P.M

15. Sri Sriram Malyadri Garu, Hon’ble M.P                      

16. Sri M Venkaiah Naidu Garu, Hon'ble Union Minister of Urban Development , GOI           

17. Sri parakala prabhakar Garu,  Communication advisor of Govt of A.P                                           

Distances as per google maps

                                                                                                            (Distance in kms)

S.No	Town/City	Ramayapatnam	Krishnapatnam	Dugarajupatnam
1.	Miryalagudem	238	334	388
2.	Khammam	325	421	475
3.	Adilabad	680	779	832
4.	Karimnagar	495	588	643
5.	Nalgonda	297	392	445
6.	Mahbubnagar	405	472	506
7.	Nizamabad	547	646	689
8.	Hyderadad	380	476	529
9.	Warangal	404	495	548
10.	Medak	470	569	622
11.	Ramagundam	552	647	700
12.	Tenali	196	291	344
13.	Guntur	172	267	320
14.	Narasaraopet	153	248	302
15.	Vijayawada	211	306	359
16.	Ongole	59	154	207
17.	Giddalur	170	226	260
18.	Markapuram	150	249	303
19.	Kadapa	191	205	190
20.	Karnool	312	349	383
21.	Nandyala	267	280	314
22.	Ananthapur	330	344	330
23.	Hindupur	386	361	349
24.	Nellore	77	27	79
25.	Kavali	20	82	135
26.	Raichur(k.k)	426	476	484
27.	Ballary(k.k)	394	408	426
28.	Guntakal	343	357	375
29.	Proddatur	190	203	237
30.	Badvel	134	148	182
31.	Tadipatri	271	285	296
32.	Manvi (k.k)	479	493	511
33.	Gadag(k.k)	549	563	581
34.	Bidar(k.k)M’’lore-827mumbai-587	542	637	680
35.	Gulbarga (k.k)(M’lore-713)(Mumbai-520)	627	722	656
36	Nagpur –MR (Mumbai-842) VP-830        MCP-809	879	974	1028
S.No	Town/City	Ramayapatnam	Krishnapatnam	Dugarajupatnam
37.	Sindhanur(k.k) M’lore-545	460	474	482
38.	Kalyandurg	380	398	399
39.	Koppal.k.k M’lore-445	522	535	553
40.	Chithradurga kk  M’lore-345	516	587	545
41.	Bagalkotkk M’lore-484	605	619	627
42.	Nanded  (MR) Mumbai-604	655	754	798
43.	Chandrapur (MR) Mumbai-929(VP-735)	712	807	861
44.	Yavatmal (MR) Mumbai-745(VP-904)	794	893	937
45.	Bhandara(MR)Mumbai-902VP-771	953	1052	1095
46.	Gadwal     (MCP-465)	395	409	443
47.	Tandur     (MCP-465)	508	603	656

Kk=karnataka-VP=Vishakapatnam, MR=Maharastra, MCP=Machilipatnam

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