(a) whether the Government are aware that the common approach channel to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) is not deep enough to accommodate the big vessels ;
(b) if so, whether the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust has sought permission to prepare a project to deepen this 18 Km channel for bigger ships ;
(c) if so, the details thereof ; and
(d) the time by which the project is likely to be taken up ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) The present approach channel depth allows Jawaharlal Nehru Port to handle Container Vessels having draft upto 12 metres.
(b)&(c) Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) sought permission from the Ministry of Shipping to appoint a Consultant for preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Project `Deepening and Widening of Main Harbour and JN Port Channel` which had already been granted. The proposed DPR would, inter alia, cover field and mathematical studies, technically feasible alternatives, dredging quantity for capital and maintenance dredging, environment impact assessment and environment management plan, economic and financial viability of the Project.
(d) The Consultants for preparation of DPR for this Project have been appointed in February, 2001. The completion of the study (DPR) would take about 6 to 8 months time.