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A.J. Vinayak

Mangalore , Dec. 9

THE Karnataka Government is gearing up to woo private investors to develop minor and intermediate ports in the State. The Coastal Investors' Meet to be held in Karwar of Uttara Kannada district on December 20 and 21 will make efforts in this direction.

Karnataka, with a coastline of more than 300 km, has nine minor ports, apart from a major port in Mangalore. Karwar, Belekeri, Tadri, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Hangarkatta, Malpe, Gangolli, and Old Mangalore come under the category of minor/intermediate ports. Except Karwar Port, all the others are fair-weather ports. Karwar has an all-weather port. The districts of northern and central Karnataka, southern Maharashtra, and western Andhra Pradesh form the hinterland of these ports.

The State Government wants to develop at least three minor ports at strategic locations to provide efficient port facilities and services to attract export-oriented industries and port-based industries to the State. Officials feel that development of minor ports will also facilitate faster growth of fisheries in the region.

New Mangalore is the only major port in the State and handles bulk of the cargo in the region. Development of minor ports will limit capacities of major ports such as New Mangalore and Mormugao.

According to an estimate, nearly 30 per cent of the total investments in the State are being made in various industries in coastal Karnataka, and the ports with deeper drafts will help boost exports from here. It is opined that the development of minor ports will give impetus to coastal shipping in the region.

Of the ports listed for private participation, Karwar Port in Uttara Kannada District caters to the requirements of two-lakh sq. km of hinterland. The port has 355-m-long quay for accommodating simultaneous berthing of two ocean going ships of 8.25 m draft with other facilities. The Union Government has declared this port for loading and unloading of all types of commodities, including class `B' and `C' petroleum products.

This port exports granite, molasses, and alumina powder, and imports furnace oil, kerosene, and rock phosphate. It also imports salt from Gujarat.

Various companies have constructed 25 liquid cargo storage tank terminals with an installed capacity of 75,000 tonnes of liquid cargo. The port handles nearly six lakh tonnes of cargo and earns Rs 6 crore revenue every year.

Officials in the Uttara Kannada district administration told Business Line that the Coastal Investors' Meet might bring in proposals for investments for the development of two more berths at Karwar Port.

Officials claim that Belekeri Port in Ankola taluk of Uttara Kannada district has got a vast stacking area and good network of roads. It has stone masonry wharf of 250 m length and two mechanical ore loading chutes. The Government is expecting private sector investment to develop Belekeri Port for handling bulk cargo, they said.

Tadri port with vast waterfront has been projected for development under BOOST (Build-Own-Operate-Share and Transfer) concept through private participation. Officials say that vast area is available for development of this port with negligible rehabilitation problems.

Apart from developing minor ports, the Government is also seeking private participation in setting up of container freight stations, LPG units, and storage facility for liquid cargo.

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