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A 470 tonne gas turbine from Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) had been stuck at the Belekeri port of Ankola in Uttara Kannada district for four weeks. The turbine was being delivered to the Raichur Thermal Power plant, 430 km from the port.
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However, following an iron ore scandal in 2010, two out of three exits from the port had been closed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, because the port and the ore-handling companies had breached regulations. The one remaining exit was not large enough to allow the exit of the gas turbine, and this exit needed special permission from the courts to be used.
In addition, residents of the nearby village – Belekeri – opposed the movement of the turbine through their village, as they feared it would damage underground utilities.
The transport operator, Reshamsingh from Mumbai, had transported the 470 tonne turbine from BHEL Haridwar to Mundra port in Gujarat by road. From here, it was taken by tug to Belekeri, prior to final transport by road to Raichur.
Arun A Pawar, Port Conservator at Belekeri port, said: “In 2013 and 2014, similar machines were transported, but this was done through the port jetty, and the gates were not required. Now, the jetty is with the Fisheries Department, and development works are in progress.”
The problem was solved when, after consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the port administration, and the district administration, Reshamsingh demolished a portion of the port wall, moved the turbine out, and rebuilt the wall on the same day.
The turbine is now on route to Raichur.