PANAJI
The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry had a meeting with the Union Minister of State for shipping, waterways and tourism Shripad Naik to discuss pertinent points related to the Ports Bill, waterways and tourism. The GCCI team comprised president Ralph De Sousa, vice president Srinivas Dempo, Pratima Dhond, Chandrakant Gawas and Kishore Shah.
Based on the discussions GCCI will integrate inputs from the State Government and its sub committees and make a consolidated representation cum blueprint, the same will be sent to New Delhi and pursued to its logical end.
Pointing out that the Indian Ports Bill 2021 aims at abolishing the Indian Ports Act 1908 and substituting it with a more relevant and comprehensive act addressing present and future needs.
This will revolutionize port management and make investment hubs through public and private partnership. GCCI expressed concern that this bill will dilute the port management powers of the State and pass them to the Centre and asked to appoint an additional representative from the maritime community as there is a single representative of the State government in the MSDC, the concerned Ports Minister.
The State Maritime Board (SMB) being constituted should be autonomous and should comprise non-political stakeholders, appealed GCCI, and asked for representation on the maritime board. State representation is also demanded in the Adjudicatory Ports and Appellate Tribunal, and that these tribunals should not be fully constituted and controlled by the Central government.
As regards the Environmental aspect, the State government should appoint local experts as members of the decision-making team for clearance of new ports/expansion revamp of the existing ports, requested GCCI.
A request to start the road connectivity from Goa Port to National Highway via Baina was made. Specific stretches of six rivers in Goa (Chapora, Kumbharjua, Mandovi, Zuari, Sal and Mapusa were declared as National waterways under Sagarmala but the project has not yet kickstarted. The demand to start the project along with desilting of river Sal for the facilitation of passenger boats and restoration and development of minor ports. Calling of bids for MPT berth no 8 and 9 to revamp under Design, Build, Operate, Finance and Transfer (DBFOT). The disputed berth Nos 1 to 4 can be made available.
Pointing out that the container feeder ship movement is irregular and is affecting container traffic from Goa Port, GCCI says it should be upgraded. Currently companies are moving containers from the CONCOR ICD terminal at Balli by Rail to JNPT. Proper container management can lure the Goan pharma companies to dispatch cargo from Goa which is now moving from other ports, feels GCCI. Under Sagarmala nine jetties (Aldona, Ribandar, Old Goa, Pilgao, Banastarim, Durbhat, Rasaim, Shiroda and Sanvordem) were to be restored and developed to boost the backwater tourism in Goa.
The chamber also demanded jobs for Goan youth and the need to complete the development of a Maritime School on BOOT basis at Britona. Some projects if completed will boost tourism. In these, a cruise terminal of MPT at Baina and two marina projects in Zuari river with a parking bay of 200 yachts should be included, said GCCI.
