Thiruvananthapuram: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has accorded environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to a Rs.5,000-crore deepwater container transshipment port to be set up at Vizhinjam, near here.
Union Environment and Forest Minister Veerappa Moily on Friday signed the file granting permission to the first phase of the port project and conveyed the message to Union Minster Shashi Tharoor. Moily will make an official announcement in this regard on Saturday.
A panel headed by Dr Anil Rizwan had submitted a report to the ministry after weighing complaints against suggestions over the Vizhinjam project. 17 options were suggested. The ministry gave the approval only after considering the report and suggestions made by the panel.