Environmentalist Subhas Datta filed a a public interest litigation petition with the Calcutta High Court against the central government’s move to stop subsidy for the dredging projects in Kolkata and Haldia ports.
Kolkata port was one of the oldest and the only riverine port in the country and it is prone to heavy deposit of silt. Datta expressed concern over the neglect of the Kolkata and Haldia ports and he wants the court to direct government to support capital dredging.
Through this petition, Datta highlighted that heavy deposit of silt was choking navigation channels, creating a problem for large vessels trying to reach the Kolkata port.
Since 1982, no capital dredging has been undertaken and the improper and unscientific maintenance dredging carried out at present is affecting navigability along the Hooghly river as well as damaging the biodiversity and marine lives, Datta said.
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