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Project Seabird finally gets cracking

Work on Asia's largest naval base, the Rs 13 billion Project Seabird at Karwar in Karnataka, will begin during the current year itself, Defence Minister George Fernandes has said.

Fernandes also said the Indian navy's operational headquarters would be located at Karwar, which is one of the three best-located harbours in the world as the surrounding topography gives it excellent protection.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in New Delhi on Thursday night between the ministry of defence and the government of Karnataka in the presence of Fernandes and Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel on a new rehabilitation package for the project- affected families.

The core area for the project would now be handed over to the authorities latest by December, and the remaining land would be made available by June next year. This will ensure that the naval base will become operational by the turn of the century.

The announcement of a rehabilitation package acceptable to all parties concerned, paves the way for commencement of work on the ambitious project which was conceived way back in the eighties.

The MoU was signed by Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar on behalf of the central government and Karnataka Chief Secretary B K Bhattacharya on behalf of the state government. Two days of protracted talks were held between the MoD and the state government officials before the MoU was signed.

Initially, work could not begin because of paucity of funds but when finally finances became available the project could not take off because of the problem of rehabilitation of PAFs came up.

While Fernandes described the signing of the MoU as a ''big day'' for Karnataka as Seabird was one of the most prestigious projects, Patel also expressed happiness at the way the problem had been resolved.

The defence minister said Project Seabird would give a ''big boost'' to Karnataka's economy.

The project was held up for more than a decade because the Centre and the state were unable to finalise a rehabilitation package for more than 4,700 families residing in 13 villages falling in the project area.

Defence ministry sources said the project was expected to become operational by the turn of the century.

According to the MoU, the defence ministry agreed to eight new demands involving an additional implication of more than Rs 610 million, and other demands raised by the affected families would now be the obligation of the state government.

Land acquisition first began in 1987-88 after the funds finally became available, but the project ran into rough weather as the rehabilitation plan was rejected by the Karnataka government.

Ever since Fernandes assumed charge of the defence portfolio, he had attached top priority to Project Seabird and held several rounds of talks with the state government, which culminated in his visit to the project area last month, and the formulation of a new rehabilitation package.

Karwar, located about 50 km south of Goa, has one of the finest harbours in the region.

The bottom is not muddy and the harbour is deep enough to accommodate large ships.

The Karwar base is expected to increase the navy's reach and access to the sea lanes of control, which has become imperative in view of the increased responsibilities of the force following immense growth in sea-borne trade in recent years and other activities within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone.

The project originally involved a meagre Rs 60 million for rehabilitation of fishermen operating in the defence project area and shifting them to the other side of Kali river for their fishing activities.

But under the new proposal, there would be landing facilities for the fishermen on the other side of the river. Besides a site for the family at the new settlement, every adult member of the family will be eligible for Rs 17,000. The children would be trained in the industrial training institutes and would later be absorbed by the navy.

According to the MoU, a uniform grant of Rs 50,000 would be paid to each project-affected family. The advance amount would be deducted from the grant. A total of 4,779 families would be entitled to such a grant and the financial implication would run into Rs 132.3 million.

The MoU also says that up to two sons per family and unmarried daughter above 35 years of age would be paid a rehabilitation grant of Rs 70,000 per head. A total of 3,536 members would be entitled to such a grant and the financial implication would be Rs 247.5 million.

UNI

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