CHENNAI: Chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday sought the support of nine chief ministers, including that of eight coastal states of Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal and Union territory of Puducherry, in opposing the Draft Indian Ports Bill 2021, dealing with the management of minor ports.
In his letter dated June 21, Stalin said the Union ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, which has framed a new ‘Draft Indian Ports Bill 2021’ to modify the current management model of minor ports, has convened a meeting of the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) with the state ministers on June 24 to discuss the bill.
As per the existing Indian Ports Act,1908, the powers to plan, develop, regulate and control the minor ports vests with the state governments.
But the Indian Ports Bill proposes to change this and transfer many of these powers to MSDC, which has so far been only an advisory body.
Further, many powers exercised by the state governments would be taken over by the Centre, even though the present system led to good development of minor ports under the states.
The move by the Centre to bring a new bill would have long term adverse impact on the management of minor ports since the state governments would not have any major role in managing them if the bill gets approved, Stalin said.
Stalin calls for joint action in letter to CMsHe urged the chief ministers to take joint action to prevent any move to dilute the powers vested with the states in administering these ports.
Tamil Nadu has around 15 minor ports.
The Kaattupalli port near Ennore, which is now controlled by the Adani group, was originally a minor port planned by the TN Maritime Board “We have already taken up the issue with the Union ministry for ports and shipping, strongly opposing such steps to reduce the autonomous role of states in the regulation and management of minor ports,” Stalin said.
He urged all states to communicate to the Centre their reservations on similar lines and also oppose the bill at the June 24 meeting.