Paradip, May 5: Paradip port trust authorities have initiated steps for the construction of a Rs 400-crore offshore breakwater system to expand its capacity and provide hassle-free berthing to larger vessels.

As a prelude to the project, a public hearing was recently held to assess its environmental impact.

"The project falls in Category-A of the environment impact authority constituted by the ministry of environment and forest. The findings of the hearing would be submitted to the authorities to get the accordance of environmental clearance," said Odisha State Pollution Control Board regional officer Prasant Kumar Kar.

The construction of an offshore breakwater system will have no impact on the change of land use pattern, as the project area is located in the sea and is highly restricted. It will only be accessible for loading and unloading at the port.

Other vessels and fishing boats are not allowed to navigate inside the port boundary, said a Paradip port official.

"The project is oriented in the east-west direction and is approximately 1,600m long. Water depth along the offshore breakwater system will vary between 10.7m at the western end and 12.8m at the eastern end. The project is scheduled for commissioning within 33 months," said the official.

Scientific studies, conducted by Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, and Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, had recommended the installation of a 1.6km offshore breakwater system.

In March, the port trust had signed a concession agreement with the Paradip International Cargo Terminal for the development of a multipurpose clean cargo terminal with a capacity of five million tonne per annum, through a public-private partnership mode on build, operate and transfer basis.