Chennai:
Is the private developer of the controversial deep water port in Puducherry close to pulling out of the project? The company - Pondicherry Port Limited - has sent a notice to the Puducherry government demanding a hefty compensation of Rs 1511 crore for what it claims is a violation of the agreement.
NDTV has a copy of the show-cause notice. It cites, among other reasons, stalling of the process of obtaining environmental clearance for five years.
Six years ago, the developer had signed a concession agreement with the Puducherry government to construct the deep water port.
The move had sparked protests from environmentalists in the former French colony. The main objections were coastal erosion and disappearance of whatever little beach is left, destruction of marine life, loss of livelihood of local fishing communities and the conversion of farmlands into wastelands, as deep dredging would make the water turn saline.
Under fire from activists for awarding the project to the private player without conducting a Feasibility Study and preparing a Cost-Benefit ratio, the Puducherry government has thrown its hands up.
"We have not got the green signal from the Ministry Of Environment. As for the legal position, we have raised a draft reply and it has been sent to the law Dept before it is sent to the party," said RP Pal, Secretary, Ports, Puducherry.
Pondy CAN, the NGO that has spearheaded the movement against the port, says the compensation claimed vindicates its stand that the private party is out to exploit the situation. Coordinator - Probir Banerjee feels the show cause notice may "amount to contempt of court because the High Court has clearly stated that the project cannot proceed until all clearances are taken."
Pondicherry Port Limited has refused to comment, insisting that its notice speaks for itself. Just what turn this whole episode takes may determine the fate of the crusade to save Puducherry's environment.