1. INTRODUCTION - India Environment Portal

The coastal area of Paradeep has wide spread sand deposit nearer to coast and
adjoining land is composed of alluvial deposit with topsoil of soft clay with traces
of decomposed vegetation upto a depth 3 to 4 m incapable of supporting the
foundation or base of superstructure over it. As the land is marshy, land filling of 4
to 5 m is considered necessary. This is overlying a soil layer of ‘medium dense
silty sand as well as poor to well graded sand’, thickness varying upto 20 to 25 m
depth followed by ‘very stiff clay’ or medium dense silty sand’ which may serve as
founding strata for pile foundation. Since no rock bearing strata was met even
after boring upto 60 m depth the end bearing piles are ruled out and hence the
piles will have to be friction type piles. The soil strata are heterogeneous in nature
and presence of compressible sandy clay and clayey sand with silt pockets may
cause greater settlement to the foundation due to high water table. The subsoil at
greater depth beyond 20 to 30 m is of stiff clay and medium to dense silt sand,
which will serve as pile supporting layer. The diameter and length of pile may be
varying with respect to type of structure and materials used for piles
(concrete/steel). However, minimum length of pile may not be less than 25 m.
2.1 PROPOSED HARBOUR FACILITIES
The steel plant will have a production capacity of 4 million tons per annum in
phase 1, and will be expand to 12 million tons per annum in three phases. Figure
2.1 shows the layout of the harbour facilities.
2.1.1 Berth alignment
The berthing line is parallel to the sand bar and is in the estuary of the JMC. This
layout has been planned to minimize the length of breakwater and dredging in
front of berth. Total number of berths and dimensions of the berth are given in
Table 2.1.
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