Thiruvananthapuram: The construction of the breakwaters of Vizhinjam international seaport has been suspended as part of the efforts to change to a more environmental-friendly material. The contractors have been asked to halt the supply of rocks for the time being. A change of the technology was being considered at a time when 600 metres of the three-kilometre-long breakwater had been completed.
Dr Jayakumar, CEO of the Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited, told Deccan Chronicle that discussions were going on at different levels to have a more environment-friendly method for breakwater development. Adani group, which was entrusted with the development of the port, has already intimated the matter to the government, Dr Jayakumar said. Sources said that one of the alternatives planned was a less frequently used hybrid structure consisting of a rock foundation supporting a concrete vertical wall instead of the rubble mound rock structure.
A rubble mound breakwater consisted of a core of small but widely graded rock, followed by an under layer of narrow graded rock, with a final main armour placed in two layers. One of the benefits of the vertical wall breakwater structure included reduced environmental impact due to significantly lower quarried rock and transport requirements and reduced construction time as the vertical wall components can be cast on site.
As the nearest quarry was estimated to be approximately 50 km from the project site, there was also a need to improve the approach roads from the quarries to enable free movement of lorries carrying rocks to the barge loading site. The rocks then have to be transported by sea via self-propelled barges. Transporting massive quantity of rocks along narrow roads through densely populated areas was a major challenge, sources said.
