§ 52. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to give any particulars of the Vizagapatam harbour scheme; whether he can give the result of the inquiry into the matter by the Government of India; whether any official inquiry has been instituted in connection with the stranding of the new dredger "Vizagapatam" on 16th march, 1927; whether work is proceeding on the scheme; and has any estimate been made of the additional cost that is being incurred over and above the original estimate?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Government of India reported on the 14th April that a preliminary inquiry into the stranding of the dredger was held by the Port Officer at Vizagapatam on the 21st March, and that they had requested the Government of Madras to institute a formal investigation. My Noble Friend does not know what work, if any, is now proceeding, but dredging operations have had to be suspended. The cost of land acquisition was approximately 45 lakhs, and the cost of construction up to the 1008 31st September, 1926, was just under 61 lakhs. No later figures or other information of importance have been received.