To
The Member Secretary,
National Board for Wild Life
Paryavaran Bhavan
Lodhi Road
New Delhi
Sub: Dhamra Port in Orissa
Dear Sir,
You may be aware that the steel complex coming up in Duburi in Jajpur district of Orissa is going to produce 18 million tons of steel and the district is going to become the steel hub of the country, which will generate more than 300,000 numbers of employment opportunities both directly and indirectly. For 18 million tons of steel more than 50 million tons of cargo movement will be there.
In order to achieve the above steel production, infrastructure like ports and roads needs to be developed. While Paradip port is reaching its saturation point, the upcoming port at Dhamra will play a key role in setting up of 18 million tons of steel complex at Jajpur and thereby facilitating in creating employment opportunities for 300,000 people. More than 20 million tons of steel dependant cargo generated from Duburi will use Dhamra port. So Dhamra port is going to be lifeline for development of Steel Hub in Jajpur district.
Orissa is developing the port at Dhamra through participation of private sector and the same port will become the property of the state after 35 years or at the end of the concession period. This port will provide livelihood and engagement to more than 20,000 families and will bring in additional revenue of Rs 700 crores annually in addition to creation of 300,000 employment opportunities in the steel hub of Jajpur..
Although the port at Dhamra is more than 30% complete, but I understand that some non-governmental organisations along with foreign funding are trying to stop the construction of Port under various environmental and other pleas.
I would request the wild life board not to take any decision and action that will delay and/or stop the upcoming port construction at Dhamra thereby depriving more than 320,000 families of their livelihood.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Mohan Jena
Member of Parliament
To
Member Secretary,
National Board for Wild Life
Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex, Lodi Road
New Delhi
Sub : Upcoming Port at Dhamara in Northern Orissa.
Dear Sir,
I am writing this letter with regard to deliberate objections that is being created by vested interests for the upcoming second port of Orisssa at Dhamara in Bhadrak district. You may be aware that State of Orssa is witnessing a new industrial development phase through value addition of minerals, which is creating employment and livelihood opportunities for a large secton of the poor people. Large-scale industrial development is taking place in Northern Orissa and Central Orissa, wherein most of the minerals are located, which includes my tribal dominated constituency of Keonjhar.
However to support these industrial development, it is essential that infrastructure projects like roads and port also needs to be simultaneously developed,. Accordingly the port at Dhamra in Bhadrak district of Orissa is coming up very fast to provide the much needed infrastructure gateway for Orissa’s development. This port at Dhamra apart from playing a key role in Orissa’s development will also provide substantial employment and livelihood opportunities to the local people. This port is now almost 30% complete and is expected to be commissioned by 2010 AD.
I understand that some local vested interests have collaborated with foreign agencies / ngos to stop the construction of the port on flimsy reasons. The port construction was initiated only after due environment clearance and National Environment Appellate Authority has also upheld this clearance in 2004. But foreign agencies have tampered the reports of Northern Orissa University with an intention to force the port construction to stop.
I strongly believe that any attempt to stop or delay the port construction at Dhamra at this stage will be have catastrophe adverse effect on Orissa’s development and will deprive thousands of tribal livelihoods and employment opportunities. I am also ready to meet the board members personally for any further discussions on the matter.
Thanking You
Yours Sincerely
Anant Nayak
Member of Parliament
21, Keonjhar.
