Public Support For 4.5 MTPA Riverine Jetty Of AM/NS India At Hearing Conducted At Odisha’s Paradip

Paradip: The Regional office of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) successfully conducted the public hearing for the proposed 4.5 MTPA captive riverine jetty of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) at the bank of Mahanadi river, in Udayabata village of Jagatsinghpur’s Paradip.

ADM Paradeep Kanhu Charan Dhir presided over the meeting, while OSPCB Regional Officer Puskar Chandra Behera conducted the public hearing meeting in the presence of Paradip Additional SP Nimain Charan Sethy, Paradip Lock Police Station IIC Sabyasachi Rout, OSPCB Paradeep Deputy Environment Engineer Bibechita Sarangi and OSPCB Paradip Deputy Environment Engineer Twinkle Mohanty.

Among those present from project proponent AM/NS India, Executive Director Odisha operations Suresha G, Head-Environment Akash Mohapatra, Head-Ports Subhakant Dash, Joint GM Corporate Affairs PK Mohanty, Head-CSR Dr Vikas Yadvendu and Senior Manager-Environment Suvendu Dash.

AM/NS India has planned to set up a captive riverine jetty at Paradip to minimize air pollution by negating road transport through trucks. This will help in reducing road traffic to Paradip port as well as carbon footprint.

The proposed riverine barge jetty will be constructed on the vacant land with a waterfront of about 600 metres, located adjacent to the existing pellet plant and 60 MW (30 x 2) thermal power plant. Both outbound iron ore pellets and import raw material will be transferred from the jetty to Paradip port and vice-versa.

The estimated project cost for the 4.5 MTPA riverine barge jetty is Rs 156.85 crore.

The project will create job opportunity for 220 people during the construction phase and 110 people during the operational period of the jetty.

Local youth will be given priority in employment, based on skills.

Akash Mohapatra, Head-Environment, AM/NS India, Odisha operations, assured that the best technology will be deployed for safeguarding of environment and protection of the riverbank.

AM/NS India representatives answered queries raised by local people about various aspects related to environmental pollution, community and peripheral development, employment benefits.

Nearly 700 people from the local community, NGOs, representatives of media were present during the meeting.

Of the 80 people from the community who spoke at the meeting, 75 were in favour of the proposed project and extended their support.