Fisheries and Port Minister K Babu said that administrative sanction has been given for Rs 1 crore for overall development of Vizhinjam port and Rs 3.80 crore for Beypore Port has been given.
The decision was taken at the high-level meeting held here on Sunday. In Vizhinjam port, Rs 50 lakh each will be used to construct channel marketing buoys and fire fighting system respectively.
An amount of Rs 3 crore has been earmarked for reach stacker at Beypore port which will help in handling cargo operations. A sum of Rs 60 lakh will be used to set up fire fighting mechanism at the port.
A vehicle traffic monitoring system will be established at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. An amount of 30 lakh has also been allotted for constructing pitless weigh bridge at both Vizhinjam port as well as Beypore port. The meeting also decided to sanction Rs 65 lakh to Valiyathura port of which Rs 50 lakh will used for construction of channel marketing buoys and Rs 15 lakh for conducting environmental impact assessment for the construction of passenger terminal. The study will include the feasibility of floating terminal, floating breakwater and will be carried out by a recognised agency.
The meeting also accorded sanction of Rs 20 lakh for setting up vessel traffic monitoring system at Kollam port and to set up a mobile sewage treatment plant at Vembanad lake. An amount of Rs 60 lakh will be earmarked for a project to find a solution to the problem of pollution created by the houseboats. Babu said that technical advice of Suchitwa Mission and Pollution Control Board would be sought for the project.
He said that the Ports Department would also acquire executive boats for which Rs 60 lakh has been sanctioned. These boats will be used on the Vizhinjam-Alappuzha-Munabam-Beypore-Azkeekal route. The meeting also decided to construct solar wharf lights in all ports for which Rs 50 lakh has been allotted.