PUDUCHERRY: PWD minister K Lakshminarayanan urged the Union Minister of Ports and Shipping to release the pending funds of Rs 21.6 crore for the first phase of development of the Puducherry Port under the Sagarmala scheme.
Under the Sagarmala project, the Puducherry Port is being developed as a minor port after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on February 25, 2021. Lakshminarayanan also demanded the release of funds for the construction of the ferry terminal under second phase, after a portion of the 60-year-old iconic pier collapsed on March 5. Lakshminarayanan, representing the Chief Minister, made this demand at the National Sagarmala Apex Committee meeting held chaired by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways at New Delhi on Friday, said a release from the minister's office.
As the UT is cash-strapped, the Puducherry Port is being developed in three phases under Sagarmala with 100% funding. For the first phase, the Ministry of Shipping sanctioned `44 crore of which Rs 18 crore was released as first instalment. The UT utilised Rs 17.10 crore (as per a letter dated 29.04.2022). The balance of Rs 0.90 crore is with the government.
Through a letter on April 29, the Puducherry government requested the release of the balance Rs 21.6 crore. They aim to complete the ongoing capital dredging work tentatively by the end of June 2022.
In Phase two of the Sagarmala scheme, the construction of a ferry terminal by demolishing the pier was proposed at an estimated cost of Rs 59.60 crore. There is a necessity to take up this work immediately, said Lakshminarayanan.
Further, the Ministry was urged to sanction a fund of Rs 7.5 crore on January 28 and March 16 for a Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the simultaneous implementation of all three phases. The Minister urged them to consider this request favourably. Lt Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan also sent a letter to Sonowal urging him to extend necessary financial support, he said.