more-in Minister for Social Welfare M. Kandasamy, who also holds the port portfolio, on Tuesday, visited the harbour at Uppalam to oversee arrangements for cargo movement as per the agreement reached between territorial administration and Chennai Port Trust. Talking to reporters, the Minister said he had directed the port officials to complete all allied works within a few weeks to start cargo movement by April. He said the government was examining various options to transport goods from the harbour to hinterland areas without affecting traffic. He said if need arises the existing road connecting harbour and Cuddalore road would be expanded. The delay in dredging was owing to technical problems faced by the Dredging Corporation of India. However, after the arrival of dredger machine by Marg, things have improved and, within a few weeks, the river mouth would be opened. Port officials said the channel from the river mouth to the harbour would be dredged for vessels to berth. Besides, other works including cleaning up of godowns, lighting, construction of police outpost, canteen and toilets would be completed shortly. AIADMK legislator A. Anbazhagan, who accompanied the Minister, urged the Minister to put a time schedule for the inauguration so that dredging and other works would expedite. The DCI had started work in mid-January to remove 3 lakh cubic metres of sand the machinery deployed by the agency was expected to remove 500 cubic metres of sand per hour in a radius of 2 km. So far, it had removed more than 1 lakh cubic metres, said an official. T. Djeamourthy, MLA, Port Secretary Arun L. Desai, Chief Engineer, Public Works Department P. Swaminathan, Director Science and Technology Department M. Dwarakanath and other officials were also present.

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