The 73rd Independence Day was celebrated by the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) with great passion with PPT Chairman Rinkesh Roy unfurling the National Flag and taking salute from 43 platoons consisting of CISF jawans and students of Paradip College, Orissa Maritime Academy and different schools of the township.
Addressing the gathering, Roy said the Paradip Port has become the country’s largest dry bulk handling port and the largest coal and coastal cargo handling port. Consecutively for last two years, it has clocked more than 100 MMT cargo handling. It has also made impressive strides in the realm of infrastructure, capacity addition, efficiency and technology. A new iron ore berth is expected to be operational by September this year and a new coal berth to handle import coal cargo is expected to be completed by April 2021.
An LPG terminal of 0.75 MMTPA-capacity at South Oil Jetty is being developed by the IOCL at a cost of Rs 690 crore. A state-of-the-art effluent treatment plant was commissioned at a cost of Rs 32 lakh in July this year in the PPT Hospital premises for disposal of liquid waste. This adds another feather to the cap of PPT for its commitment towards prevention of pollution and biohazard in and around Paradip. Moreover, two new sewerage treatment plants would be commissioned in this fiscal with a capacity of approximate 4.5 MLD and at a cost of Rs 21.82 crore.
Roy further said the first state-of-the-art 10 MLD (million litres per day) Desalination Plant in Odisha is going to be commissioned at the Paradip Port.
An MoU regarding consulting services for the purpose was signed between PPT and NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai on July 15 this year. As per this, SWRO (seawater reverse osmosis) water would be available in the PPT Township. This project would supplement the drinking water requirement during the summer in the township.
This first-of-its-kind drinking water venture in Odisha by the PPT is a landmark project.
As part of welfare measures for rehabilitation and restoration efforts in areas affected by Cyclone Fani, the Paradip Port Trust has contributed a sum of Rs 5 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. As part of development of Smart Industrial Port City, the port would segregate its cargo traffic from the passenger traffic, for which a second exit road-cum-flyover shall be implemented at a cost of Rs 106 crore.
This would ensure safety in road movement and clean environment to the commuters. Another bridge shall also be constructed adjacent to the old ATBK Bridge for congestion-free movement to the Fishery Harbour Road and the port premises.
All efforts are being made to beautify the township including development of parks, creek side and walking paths and make Paradip as a walkers’ paradise. A modern air-conditioned conference hall would soon be opened for the benefit of inhabitants of the township at a cost of Rs 3 crore, the PPT chief informed.
Towards environmental measuers, a state-of-art technology - Dry Fog system - has been commissioned at the Mechanised Coal Handling Plant.
As many as 1,665 streetlights have been replaced by LED lights. A proposal for installation of auto sprinklers on main roads in the port’s prohibited area is under consideration by the MECON. A rooftop solar plant of 265 kwp has been installed, he said.
Roy awarded prizes to the winners of different competitions held for the occasion. He also felicitated the meritorious students of the township who passed Class-X examination this year by securing highest marks in CBSE, ICSE and BSE Boards.
A Poets’ Meet was also organised at the Officer’s Club followed by an exhibition football match in the afternoon at the Gopabandhu Stadium. In the evening, inter-school dance competitions on patriotic themes were held among schoolchildren at the JaydevSadan.
