`Vikrant site OK only if…’

MUMBAI, June 29: One of the seniormost trustees of the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), S R Kulkarni has vociferously opposed the choice of the sit...

MUMBAI, June 29: One of the seniormost trustees of the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), S R Kulkarni has vociferously opposed the choice of the site off Radio Club for grouting the Vikrant. In April, he resigned from the sub-committee appointed by the port to study the proposal. Last Friday, he deferred the item from the board’s agenda, much to the chagrin of the state government. Express Newsline spoke to Kulkarni, who is also leader of the powerful Transport and Dock Workers’ Union.

Why are the two Mumbai Port Trust unions opposed to the Vikrant project?

We are not opposed to the conversion of the Vikrant as a museum but merely to the arbitrary and hurried manner in which the Jamshedji Bunder site has been selected.

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Asking the port trust to immediately clear the site, the state government has also said that it should be concerned only with port related issues and leave environment and road transport aspects to them. What is your comment on this?

It’s like asking a judge to deliver theverdict after which the relevant evidence will be presented. The port trust’s sub-committee was to appoint an expert to go into aspects regarding the two sites, whether dredging and rock blasting would affect the residents and fishermen of the area. And yes , MbPT is concerned with traffic congestion which will result from such a large project in the area.

But the navy has said that an expert committee will further delay the project and endanger the ship.

An expert, if appointed by the MbPT chairman today, can submit the report before the next meeting of the trustees on July 15. We will not oppose it if the choice of site if an expert clears it. A mere clearance by the Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPR) is insufficient.

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The state government has said it will appoint experts to study the site after clearance is granted.

Because there are chances of the state government’s experts preparing a tailor-made report.

Why did you have the subject deferred in lastFriday’s meeting of the port trustees?

Because we needed time to go through the report of the sub-committee which had recommended the two sites at Jamshedji Bunder and Oyster Rock. And also because we wanted it to be studied by experts appointed by the port trust.

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MbPT Chairman A K Mago has assured the Union Surface Transport Minister that the port would give its verdict by July 15. Comment.

I stand by my decision to insist upon the appointment of experts/consultants to study the two sites before clearance is granted.

What alternative sites you have suggested?

The ship can be berthed near the Elephanta island, it will aid in the development of the area. It can also be berthed off Bandra or Andheri.

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