Update: Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.

…“The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) had objected to construction of a port at Inchudi which was close to test range at Chandipur”, Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy said after holding a discussion with the DRDO personnel here on Frida y.

The state government, which was planning at least five ports in Balasore coast, had received green signal from DRDO for four other ports at Bahalpur, Chudamani, Chandipur and Kirtania. Only one port at Inchudi was objected to, he said.

Meanwhile, the state government had already signed MoU with a private firm for setting up a port at Kirtania. The DRDO objected to the port at Inchudi because it fell within the 50 km range of the test range at Chandipur. The state government, however, claimed that though the Revenue village at Inchudi came under the 50 km radius of the test range, the proposed port is located at its border and well outside the specified distance.

The state government’s argument was not accepted by the DRDO officials who attended the meeting and asked the administration to submit a detailed project report with the Defence ministry again before going ahead with the port proposal at Inchudi.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

The Ministry of Defence has raised objections to the ports like Enchudi, Chandbali, Kirtania, Bahabalpur and Chudamani. However, the State Government has raised objections to it. It has pointed the DRDO had passed the proposals in way back in 1996. The Government officials pointed out that it should have raised the objections at that time when the State submitted proposals for their clearance.

Meanwhile, a high-level team of Defence officials called on the Chief Secretary and discussed these issues. “We will soon sort out the problem. Efforts would me be made to keep the interest of the State,” said the team leader of the Defence officials. The State Government has already singed MoU for the Kirtania port.