Odisha objects to provisions in Centre’s draft ports bill

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Tuesday raised objection to certain provisions in the draft Indian Ports Bill-2021 proposed by the Centre, apprehending that the new legislation may dilute powers already vested with the states on management of non-major ports.
State commerce and transport minister Padmanabha Behera wrote a letter to Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways (PSW), Mansukh Mandaviya, seeking modification in the draft bill and proper deliberations to address the concerns of the coastal states.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin had written to nine chief ministers including Odisha to oppose the ports bill and to take a joint action.
As the authority to make regulations for non-major ports for most subjects is the state maritime boards or state governments of coastal states at present, the Centre seeks to appropriate the authority of the state through Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) with the proposed bill, said an official.
“We object to this proposed appropriation of state authority by the Union government. The proposed provision, instead of making India a strong maritime nation, will stunt the growth of port-led development in the nation through its centralization of authority,” said Behera.
The commerce and transport minister said the proposal is against the very spirit of cooperative federalism and empowerment of states. Behera said the MSDC has been in existence as a notified advisory body since 1997, focussing on integrated planning and development of ports and inland waterways.
The draft bill proposes to give it a statutory status. “While we welcome this step, MSDC should only comprise of ministers of coastal states and Union minister for PSW similar to that of GST council. The concerned officials of the Union government and coastal state governments may be made invitees to the MSDC,” said Behera.
Stating that the draft bill mandates centralization of several routine functions to MSDC like conducting inquiry, deciding tariff stature, which will be very limiting and less efficient, the commerce and transport minister said MSDC’s role should continue to be recommendatory and advisory as before.