Subject: Environmental/CRZ Clearance for Proposed Development of Outer Harbour at Cochin Port, Kerala Cochin Port, a major port under the Government of India, is located on the south-west coast of India, in the state of Kerala with coordinates 9058’N Latitude and 76016’E Longitude. The port is located on the artificially created Willingdon Island, in the vast expanse of Vembanad backwaters, discharging into the seas through the opening in the shore. Cochin Port is facing issue of heavy siltation in Inner Harbour and Approach Channels and erosion of shoreline on Puthuvypeen and Fort Kochi sides. Combination of siltation and erosion is leading to CoPT needing to spend large amount of money on annual maintenance dredging needed to maintain required depths for safe vessel operations. In past, several attempts/studies were made to address this issue scientifically and some groynes have been made on southern side of the Gut. Presence of such groynes along with seawalls on south of the mouth has reduced erosion to some extent and this has given confidence for further comprehensive studies to work towards a permanent solution for sea erosion problems. A study in this regard conducted by IIT, Madras on methods of reducing erosion and siltation, recommends the need for developing an Outer Harbour. As per the findings/recommendations of the study, the Outer Harbour is needed for following reasons: Minimizing maintenance dredging requirements Prevention of neighbourhood shoreline erosion, and Facilitating development activities at the Port in future Accordingly, a conceptual layout has been prepared by M/s i-maritime Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. as part of Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR). The DFR has proposed construction of Two (02) Breakwaters on both sides of the Approach Channel (Northern Breakwater – 6,676 m and Southern Breakwater – 4,850 m). In addition, proposed development involves reclamation of area within the breakwaters to create back up area for future port expansion and port related activities by dredging and filling from channel/ basin inside proposed Outer Harbour. China has recently developed Hambantotta Port in Sri Lanka and it may pose potential threat to India. Since Indian Navy has shown interest in co-partnering the project this project can be considered as important in strategic point of view. Indian Coast Guard has also requested area for setting up of their facilities in the Outer Harbour. As traffic build-up at Outer Harbour is envisaged to take about 8-9 years from now, no berths, back up storage areas, etc. are planned at the reclaimed areas of proposed Outer Harbour for present proposal. As such, present proposal as part of overall development of Outer Harbour is only limited to construction of the breakwaters and reclamation by dredging and filling. Proposed reclamation will create a land of ~1052 Ha at Northern Breakwater and ~263 Ha at Southern Breakwater (to be used by Navy). For this proposed development, CoPT is seeking an Environmental/CRZ Clearance from MoEF following an EIA. Construction of the Breakwaters, Dredging and Reclamation works for the proposed Outer Harbour development at Cochin Port is estimated to cost around Rs. 6,020 Crores. Construction of the Breakwaters is anticipated to commence in FY–2016, after obtaining all necessary statutory clearances, and is likely to take about 3 years for its completion. Dredging and reclamation work will be undertaken after this and is estimated to take another 3 years for its completion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .