THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The commencement of work on the Vizhinjam International Transhipment Project may be delayed owing to the time needed for completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment.

This was the indication that emerged in the discussions held between Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh and officials and people's representatives here on Monday. The Minister visited the project site and interacted with local leaders and officials.

During he interactions, Nalini Bhat, adviser to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, said the marine biology, proneness to erosion, and impact on the local fishing community would have to be studied. The study, which could start during this monsoon, would have to continue until the next monsoon. The situation prior to the monsoon and after would have to be assessed, she said.

Leaders of political parties who met the Union Minister supported the project, noting that it would bring jobs and other opportunities to the fishing locality.

The Minister enquired whether the proposed port would have any impact on the Vizhinjam fishing harbour. Manoj Joshi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd., informed the Minister that the port would make the operations of the harbour smoother. Entry and exit for boats from the harbour would become easier. The local leaders pointed out that fishing harbours functioned near the Kochi and the Chennai ports. They complained that international lobbies were trying to undermine the project.

The Minister enquired about the advantages of the location, especially in relation to the Colombo port, and whether a port previously existed in Vizhinjam.

The Minister was told that there was a historical reference about a port at Vizhinjam. It would be easier for ships to berth close to Vizhinjam owing to the depth of the sea. It had advantages over other ports in that respect. Besides, Vizhinjam was close to the international sea route and the project would be viable if it could corner 12 per cent of the container transhipment traffic now going to Colombo.

The Minister was accompanied by the Ministers V.S. Sivakumar, K. Babu and K.B. Ganesh Kumar; Shashi Tharoor, MP; Jameela Prakasam, MLA; Chief Secretary P. Prabhakaran; and other officials