The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 1st March accorded environmental clearance to the non-major port proposed at Machilipatnam in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 11,464 crore that is divided as Rs 5,155.73 crore in the first phase and Rs 6,308.16 crore in the second. The port will have a cargo handling capacity of 35 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) at four berths in the first phase and 80.97 MMTPA in the later phase comprising 12 berths. Post completion its cargo capacity will be 115.97 MMTPA with 16 berths in an area of 2,935 acre (including 225 acre for road and rail connectivity and 155 acre for dredging on land side). The total length of the seafront will be 3.5 km. A continuous 2,075 metre long southern breakwater and a 250 metre-long northern one have also been proposed to be constructed for establishing a tranquil harbour basin. The port will have an approach or entrance channel measuring 12.60 km in length and 200 metre in width with a depth of 17.10 metres. During the initial phase, the port will receive 80,000 DWT vessels. The MoEFCC has laid down 25 specific conditions to be complied by the project proponent (Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board), in addition to the standard conditions related to air and water quality monitoring and preservation, noise monitoring and prevention, energy conservation, waste management, green belt, marine ecology, human health issues and environment responsibility.