Bhubaneswar: With Odisha aspiring to become the main maritime country by exploring the potential of 480 KM-KM-lines, the state government captures that Ports Ports Bill, 2021, if implemented, will be a big setback for that dream.
The state government has increased objections to certain provisions in the draft Indian Port Bill anticipating that the proposed law can end the upper state of the non-main port.
If the port bill will be implemented, the state government says it will focus all strength with the Maritime State Development Board (MSDC).
At present, the center controls the main port operation while the coast state or their maritime council has full authority over the non-main port.
“The state government will lose control of the non-main port operation if the port legislation proposed by the center is implemented.
While our state assembly has passed the law to have a maritime board to streamline maritime operations in the state, the new bill has no provisions For maritime boards, “said a senior official of the State Trade and Transportation Department.
The official said the new law could inhibit the state plan for the development of non-main ports through public-private-partnership mode (PPP).
While the port paradip in Odisha is considered the main port, which in Dhamra and Gopalpur is a non-main port.
In addition, four non-main ports – one on the subarnarekha river, river port in Mahanadi in the district of Kendrapada, one in the mouth of the Jatadhar and others in Astaranga – is on a pipeline.
There are eight other potential locations identified for port development along the state coastline.
Previously, the Bihar government had expressed interest in establishing port facilities along the coastline of the country, which had been received by the Odisha government.
In addition, the government also has a plan for logistics park projects in Dhamara, Gopalpur and Subarnarekha.
Experts say even though there is a need to streamline non-main port operations, the steps taken by coastal countries for the development of ports along the coastline they will not be discouraged.
“There is a need for national planning in the number and location of their port and area of ​​operations so that the incident such as the main port expands its limit to port other countries or the central government planning a new port adjacent to where a developing country a port does not occur in the future.
Coastal countries have shown large initiatives in the development of the port, both through PPP or vice versa.
We should not kill the initiative, “Former CEO of Port Dhamra, Santosh Kumar Mohapatra, told TII.
While the Minister of Trade and Transportation State Padmanabha Behera has written a letter that communicates Odisha’s objections to certain parts of the bill, the official source said the Department of Commerce and Transportation has been looking for more time from shipping services to deliver the view of clauses on.
Draft Bill.