Thiruvananthapuram > The Kerala government today made it clear that it would not accept the arguments of Adani Ports Limited over the extension of contract period for the completion of Rs 7525 crore Vizhinjam International Transshipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport.
Minister for Ports, Ramachandran Kadannappally, made the statement in the assembly while replying to a notice for an adjournment motion moved by Congress-led UDF opposition. Rejecting the opposition’s charges, the Minister admitted that the government had received a letter from the private group seeking extension by six months for the completion of the project.
"The government will not accept the arguments of the company for extension. We will take steps to levy fine on Adani as per the contract if the project is delayed beyond the stipulated period," he said.
The damage caused to the company's two dredgers in the Ockhi cyclone, that hit the state coast on November last, and the shortage of granite for the work were the reasons cited by Adani for seeking extension of the period, he pointed out. The agreement for the project was signed with M/S Adani Vizhinjam Port Limited during the previous UDF rule and the company started construction on December 5, 2015.
As per the contract agreement, the port is scheduled to be completed by December 4, 2019. Kadannappally said the infrastructure work such as rail connectivity and road, to be carried out by the government, was progressing.
Nearly 92 per cent of the land required for the project had been acquired and handed over to the company, he said. The problem with regard to the shortage of granite also would be sorted out soon, he stated.
"The government will take all steps to complete the project on time," he added.
