The Hindu Business Line : States seek soft funding option for minor ports

Several State Governments have called for a softer funding option from the Centre for constructing minor ports. They also called for moves to ensure good rail and road connectivity to the minor ports.

"States in general agreed that major expansion of ports is required and the expansion should come mainly from non-major ports," Mr A.K. Mohapatra, Secretary, Department of Shipping, told media persons after the Conference of Chief Secretaries on Public Private Partnership in Infrastructure here."They suggested that the Government should think of some soft funding pattern for minor ports," he added. They also stressed on the need to have good railway and road connectivity to the minor ports.

Gujarat raised the issue of having rail connectivity to Hazira. This has been referred to Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, said Mr J.P. Batra, Railway Board Chairman.

Some States said the implementation of projects was getting delayed due to environmental clearances. "We do recognise that the Environment Ministry would have to take care of the environmental impact of such projects," said Mr Mohapatra. However, there is probably a need to evolve a fast track approach for some prioritised projects, he said.

On being asked if any State Government had raised the issue of whether a monopoly would emerge following the DP World acquisition of P&O Ports, he replied in the negative. "The Government has decided to take up issues of possibility of monopolies emerging followed by such international mergers and acquisitions on a case-by-case basis. We are not concerned about any such threat perception now," he said.