THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vizhinjam Mother Port Action Council (V-MAC) has expressed strong resentment at the Government's contention that the process of inviting fresh tenders for the proposed international container terminal project would take eight months. A meeting of the council held here on Monday urged the Government to complete the bidding process by April and start construction by May.

Appukuttan Pillai, former Superintending Engineer, Harbour Engineering department, who presided over the meeting called on Minister for Ports M. Vijayakumar to clarify the Government's stand on the issue.

"The Centre will provide viability gap funding for the project only after the State completes the tendering process and submits the application. The Union Government has already released Rs.795 crore out of a total of Rs.3,970 crore sanctioned for 17 projects. The Vizhinjam project does not figure in this package. Yet, the Minister talks as if the Centre has already committed funds for the project," he said.

The meeting observed that the Government had failed to utilise even the budgetary allocation.

The meeting was organised as part of a district-wide campaign for the Vizhinjam project. Taluk-level conventions were organised in Neyyatikara and Chirayinkeezh last week. The meeting decided to organise similar conventions in all the Assembly constituencies in the district.

Source: The Hindu (10-01-02)