Shipping ministry extends Rs 50 lakh aid to Adyar Cancer Institute

Chennai:

Union Shipping Ministry on Wednesday extended Rs 50 lakh financial assistance under the corporate social responsibility to Adyar cancer institute.

Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan presented the cheque of Rs 50 lakh to chairman of the institute Dr Shanta in the presence of Chennai Port chairman Atulya Mishra, Ennore port chairman M A Bhaskarachar and VOC Port chairman S Natrajan.

Speaking during the occasion, Dr Shanta thanked the minister and said that the government should take initiatives to make cancer treatment affordable and equitable.

Under the corporate social responsibility scheme the Chennai Port Trust, Ennor Port and VOC Port Trust have earmarked Rs 77 lakh, Rs 2.72 crore and Rs 3.06 crore respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said his ministry has taken many policy initiatives like issuance of guidelines for corporate social responsibility as well as guidelines for security clearance for the port projects.

Vasan also said the capacity of Indian ports have crossed 1200 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) which is a landmark for port sector. During the financial year upto January 15, 2013, the minister said that Chennai port has handled 41.88 million tonnes of cargo, which is expected to reach 53.50 million tonnes by the end of this financial year. He said VOC port has handled 22.13 million tonnes which is expected to reach 28.50 million tonnes and Ennore Port has handled 12.21 million tonnes which is expected to reach 15 million tonnes by the end of this financial year.

He said in the current year, shipping ministry has ambitious programme of awarding 42 capacity augmentation projects in major ports at a total cost of Rs 14,750 crore which will add capacity of 251 million metric tonnes per annum.