Environmental Impact Assesment

THE DHAMRA-CHANDBALI PORT EXPANSION PROJECT, ORISSA, INDIA
Critique of the Environmental Impact Assessment

By Dr. Paul Johnston & Dr. David Santillo Greenpeace Research Laboratories, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter May 2007

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The Dhamra-Chandbali Port Expansion Project, Orissa, India
Critique of the Environmental Impact Assessment

Authors: Dr. Paul Johnston & Dr. David Santillo Greenpeace Research Laboratories (Greenpeace International) School of Biosciences, University of Exeter Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK Publishers: Greenpeace India, 3360, 13th B Main, Indirangar, HAL II Stage, Bangalore, 560 038. Tel: +91 80 4115 4861 Fax: +91 80 4115 4862. www.greenpeaceindia.org © Greenpeace, May 2007 Contact: ashish.fernandes@in.greenpeace.org

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1 Introduction

The Dhamra-Chandbali Port Project is far
from being a simple expansion of the existing Dhamra fishing port, located some 4km upstream of the river and which can currently handle around 200 mechanised vessels, as well as some 300 traditional craft. By contrast, the proposal involves a large scale development to the north of the existing port, on the area between the existing high and low tide limits. Phase I, to be completed by 2009 will involve construction of 0.7 km of berth space with associated handling facilities for bulk and general cargoes. When fully realised, the project will provide for 13 berths of 18m depth, a dredged channel to this depth and a rail connection to the national rail network. This will make the facility the deepest water port in India, capable of handling vessels up to 180,000 deadweight tonnes. 1 The traffic potential is likely to be largely determined by the exploitation and export of mineral resources inland together with steel products, and the import of coal for coking and energy generation. It is possible that the port could also serve as an import point for crude oil, though the predominant cargo type is envisaged to be dry bulk.2 The construction of the... [continues]

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