PRESS NOTE
UPDATE ON RELIEF MEASURES UNDERTAKEN FOR TSUNAMI HIT AREAS BY DEPTT. OF SHIPPING, MINISTRY OF SHIPPING ROAD TPT. & HIGHWAYS
· A Control Room was set up on 26.12.2004 itself, which is wroking round the clock and is in contact with all the concerned field agencies as well as other Ministries. Telefax No. of Control Room is 011-23739621.
· Mayabunder wharf in Middle Andaman, which was affected by Tsunami waves, has become operational for berthing of mainland and inter-island ships. The berthing of ships has also started on this wharf. The unloaded material is being transported manually to the shore as the approach jetty has been damaged.
· M.V.Harshvardana, a Shipping Corporation of India Passenger-cum-Cargo Vessel sailed from Kolkatta Port at 0350 hrs. on 4.1.05 with relief materials consisting of Bailey Bridges (138 tonnes), tents (20 Tonnes) and 50 Tonnes of miscellaneous material consisting of water, medicines and food stuff provided by NGOs.
· A cargo ship TCI Shakti will leave from Visakhapatnam Port Trust on 5th January 2005 at about 6.00 am which will also carry additional relief materials. On 6th January 2005, a Ship MVGati will leave Chennai Port at 0600 hrs. and Ship Atif will leave on 0300 hrs. from Kolkata on same date.
· As directed by the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Thiru. T. R. Baalu, major Ports at Chennai, Visag and Kolkata from where relief material is going to Port Blair, have waived off port charges on relief material besides giving priority berthing to ships carrying such materials.
· Rs.50 crore donated by the organisations under Department of Shipping to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Details are as under:
a) Major Ports - Rs.32 crore
b) Shipping Corp. of India - Rs.12 crore
c) Dredging Corp. of India - Rs. 6 crore
Total - Rs. 50 crore
Deptt. Of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Road Tpt. & Highways,
Govt. of India; dated January 04, 2005.