Vessel owners oppose Essar coal jetty

GANDHINAGAR - Vessel owners Thursday opposed a coal jetty project of corporate major Essar coming up near the port town of Salaya in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district as they say it is located in the fishing zone and will irretrievably damage both coastal ecology and local economy.

Adam Bhaya, secretary of the Salaya Vessel Owners’ Association (SVOA), said the jetty being put up for import of coal to fuel Essar’s 1,200 MW power plant slated to come up at a cost of Rs.4,800 crore will seriously harm mangroves, other marine life as well as impact the lives of about two lakh people residing in Salaya and 14 villages surrounding it.

“How can a jetty for importing coal which will have an over four km long beltline going into the sea be allowed in a protected fishing zone,” he asked.

The association has sought the urgent intervention of the district administration and the shipping ministry besides the local administration. It has also urged the corporate major to provide them with the blueprint of the jetty to enable them to study the plans to ascertain things for themselves.

The Salaya nagarpalika chief officer A.B. Sheikh is already on record on its refusal to give clearance for the jetty since it figures in the fishing zone.

Adam pointed out that fishing had already been banned at Sikka and Vadinar where Essar and Reliance have their existing jetties.

“This has resulted in fishermen moving towards Salaya in search of livelihood. With Salaya now also set to get a jetty, the fishermen of over 14 villages besides the town are set to lose their livelihood,” he pointed out.