India examines shipbuilding proposal

Official sources in India indicate that Bharati Shipyard Ltd and Apeejay Surendra Group have jointly proposed to develop a state-of-art shipbuilding and ship repair yards at Dhamara in Bhadrak district. “The government is examining the proposal”, Industries Minister B B Harichandan said.

Official sources said the government was serious about the proposal because this would be labour-oriented with massive job opportunities. As many as 41,000 people could be provided with jobs if it materialised. In their proposal, the promoters said they preferred the Orissa area because of easy availability of raw materials as well as manpower. The project will require huge quantity of steel for shipbuilding and repair activities.

The promoters had also assured the government that they would go by the resettlement and rehabilitation policy of Orissa government while acquiring land for their project.