Vizhinjam International Seaport Chief Executive Suresh Babu informed a news agency that it would consider the complaints against the Rs 4,000-crore port project after it gets the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report. The report is expected in the next few weeks.

Babu informed that anybody with any complaint can appear at the mandatory public hearing and present their cases after the submission of the report.

It is learnt that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) received a complaint from locals of nearby village Mulloor that a proposed road connecting the multi-purpose port will adversely impact their water source and farm land.

IFC is the transaction advisor to the Vizhinjam port and is also managing about $1.6 million in trust funds for the project. IFC's role in the project is to help in structuring and implementing the project.

The complaint would be discussed at a public hearing, to be conducted after a month of the state pollution control board receiving the EIA report.

He also informed that the complaint will have no material impact as the Rs 4,000-crore port is bound by a 2006 central government order.

Babu also pointed out that the proposed road is not a new one being built but only widening of an existing road being done by the PWD and not the port. Therefore, any complaint should be addressed to PWD and not to the port.