Kandla port damage assessed at rs. 50 Crores: Partial operations resumed

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 5. Assessing the overall damage caused to the Kandla Port and its various facilities in Gujarat due to the earthquake at about Rs. 50 crores, the Union Shipping Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley, said today that efforts were now directed at restoring normality in port operations to the extent immediately possible as the revival of the economy of the surrounding region was dependent on it.

The port operations, suspended in the wake of the earthquake on January 26, have been partially resumed from February 3. Though at present the port was operating at 40 per cent capacity, cargo handling was expected to pick up further in the next few days. Both loading and unloading operations were being undertaken at the port where six ships were berthed, Mr. Jaitley told newsmen here.

Asserting that the damage to the Kandla Port was not as extensive as had been made out earlier, he said a team of experts from the IIT, Chennai, and Mr. S. Gopalan, former Development Advisor, Ministry of Shipping, had inspected the port to assess the damage and suggest restoration measures.

According to the team's findings, no ship or port craft suffered any damage though circular cracks had been noticed in the cargo berth 1 to 5, while the other three berths were in good condition. One of the oil jetty (no. 1) had been badly damaged even as the pipeline of the oil jetty no. 4 had suffered some damage. The pipelines of other five jetties could be used after testing them.

Out of the 24 warehouses, only five were damaged. The control tower and the new block of the administrative building too had suffered damage. There were some cracks in the port buildings at Gandhidham, Kandla and Vadinar. Horizontal separation had been seen across the Apron at the expansion joints.

Mr. Jaitley said repair and restoration work would begin after the experts submitted their report, which was expected within a week. Finances for the work would not be difficult as the port authorities had enough reserves. Damage was mostly in the form of cracks and opening up of joints. Much would depend on the assessment of the damage to the structure and their expert view whether it would be possible to strengthen the structures and repair the joints without any risk in future. One view was that the five berths which had suffered damage could be used even now but with a lower intensity.

He said cargo operations were resumed in six berths while two other berths were occupied by the naval ships which were being used as make-shift hospitals to treat the victims. A Coast Guard vessel engaged in relief work was operating from another berth.

The port authorities had also providing port equipment to remove debris and rescue people trapped under it. The Control Room set up at the Kandla Port Trust was coordinating with the civil administration in rescue and relief operations.

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