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Paradip Port bidding delayed
2009/2/18
In a nimble about-turn, the Union government has reversed a January decision to grant security clearance to two consortia that were bidding for terminals at Paradip Port in Orissa, Mint reported.
One consortium has a Chinese firm as a member, while the other a company from the UAE. Both were bidding for coal and iron ore terminals at Paradip.
“We have denied security clearance to the Monnet Ispat Ltd-led consortium and the Lanco Infratech Ltd-led consortium because of their links with Chinese and UAE firms,” said a shipping ministry official on condition of anonymity. The move was to “maintain equal treatment to all players”.
Paradip Port officials confirmed the development.
The latest decision is an effort to keep in line with an earlier move to bar Chinese firms or groups with Chinese connections, as well as from the UAE, from bidding for Indian port projects, on account of national security concerns.
In January, the shipping ministry, on advice from the defence and home ministries, had given security clearance to both the consortia, but denied it to a consortium of Hong Kong-based Noble Group-Gammon Infrastructure Projects and state-owned MMTC because of its Chinese links.
The shipping ministry had also disallowed the consortium, consisting of Dubai-based Emirates Trading Agency and Ras Al Khaimah-based Saqr Port Authority, on national security grounds.
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2009/2/18