Baliapal: The ambitious Subarnarekha port project proposed at Choumukh Kankadapal under this block in Balasore district was supposed to be commissioned by 2014, but it remained a nonstarter even nine years after signing of an agreement for the project.
Locals lamented that no concrete step has been taken as yet for the project while the government keeps on holding review meetings one after another in this regard.
According to reports, people of Balasore had a lot of hope about economic development of their area when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced about the port during his visit to Langaleswar December 15, 2006.
The government had signed an agreement with Chennai-based Creative Port Development Limited December 18 2006. As per the agreement, Rs 2,187 crore was to be pumped into the 14-15 MTC port with 10 berths. Besides, an industrial park was to be developed at Kirtania under this block.
The port was to be executed on the basis of build, own, operate and share turns (BOOST).
Two years after this pact, the government again signed an agreement with the company January 2008. When the company wanted 1,215 acres of land, then Baliapal tehsildar stated that only 961 acres of land could be available for the purpose.
The remaining 254 acre required for the project belonged to the forest department while 128 acre was under illegal occupation of about 90 families, the report said.
An economic survey has been conducted for the purpose. Besides, a rail corridor is to be set up, which requires 1,565 acres of land in 55 villages.
Let alone the rail corridor, the district administration has not yet acquired an inch of land for the ambitious port project. PNN
