BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has proposed to establish a board for the overall development of maritime activities in the state, which boasts of a more than 480km-long coastline.
Though the Odisha Maritime Board Bill, 2020, was tabled in the winter session of the state assembly, it could not be passed as the session was adjourned a month ahead of schedule.
The proposed board will take a call on the issues relating to its establishment, administration and control, management of the existing and upcoming non-major ports and the development of potential port sites on the coastline of the state, a provision of the bill said.
The proposed maritime board will also formulate policies, spell out guidelines and issue directions for the development of the port sector and other maritime activities in the state. “It will act as a facilitator and attract private investments in the sector and help develop inland waterways in the state,” commerce and transport minister Padmanabha Behera said.
Sources said the maritime legislation, once enacted, would also repeal the Orissa Port Trust Act of 1962.
The proposed maritime board will consist of 12 members with the chief secretary of the state as its chairperson, while the secretary of the state commerce and transport department will be the member secretary of the board.
Among others, the special secretary of the commerce and transport department, director of ports, the officials of the water resources, industries and revenue and disaster management departments and representatives of the Union ministry of shipping, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy will be also be a part of it.
Ports at Subarnarekha and Astaranga river mouths likely
One member, who is an expert in one or more sectors of shipping, navigation, ports, sailing or maritime trade, will also be appointed by the state government According to the bill, the proposed maritime board will have the power to provide for the construction, maintenance and operation of ports in the state directly or through public-private-partnership mode.
It will also regulate and control navigation within the limits of the port and port approaches and can also exercise the supervision and control over all works relating to the ports in the state.
It can also initiate the development plans and frame guidelines for non-nationalized inland waterways in the state. Also, the licensing and regulatory functions in respect of port infrastructure and services and non-nationalized inland waterways will be vested with the board.
Besides the Paradip Port, which is a major port functioning under the Union ministry of shipping, two non-major ports at Dhamra and Gopalpur are operational in the state. Two more non-major ports at Astaranga and Subarnarekha mouth are in the pipeline.