CM shows interest in planned dry inland port in Thar desert

BARMER: Rajasthan government is planning a dry inland port in the Thar Desert. Under the multi-crore rupees project, planned in association with Gujarat, there is a plan to connect the Thar with a port along the Arabian Sea.

The project will give a boost to economic activities in desert districts of western Rajasthan, experts say.

In October 2014, the then Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje during her Barmer visit had made an announcement to set up an inland shipping port in Barmer.

The project was planned for a speedy transport of goods between Rajasthan and Gujarat. Under the project, the government has planned a 150-km long channel to connect Arabian Sea and Thar Desert.

The channel will connect Kutch in Gujarat to Sanchore, bordering Barmer in Rajasthan.

The then government had sent a feasibility report in the matter to the Union ministry, but with the change in government in Rajasthan, the project remained on paper.

On June 4, during a virtual meeting at the inauguration of a field hospital, set up by oil and gas company Vedanta, state revenue minister Harish Choudhary raised the issue of dry inland port again.

Choudhary suggested chief minister Ashok Gehlot if the state government pursues the project, it will change the economic scenario of western Rajasthan. Replying to Choudhary, Gehlot said he will pursue the project.

“Soon, I will write to the centre government to go ahead with the proposal,” Gehlot told Choudhary.

Besides, Choudhary also urged intervention of Anil Agarwal, executive chairman at Vedanta Resource Limited, who was also present during the event, in the project.

“My demand is that on the pattern of English Channel, Vedanta should conduct a project feasibility report for the proposed dry inland port in Barmer to connect Arabian Sea with Thar Desert,” Choudhary urged Agarwal.

Later, addressing Choudhary, Agarwal tweeted: “I have my roots in Rajasthan and it gives me heartfelt pleasure to be part of any project aiming at the long term development of the people here.”