The Hindu Business Line : KoPT awaits nod to develop port land in joint sector

The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has sought the Union Government's permission to develop port land in partnership with private firms but the approval is yet to come.

An estimated 100 acres of land, bulk of which is outside the Kolkata municipal area, is readily available for development in the joint sector, according to Dr A.K. Chanda, Chairman of KoPT.

Talking to newspersons here , Dr Chanda indicated that the move was initiated to free land occupied by old-time tenants and even their sub-tenants for a long time. The job had not always been easy as vested interests had developed over the years. As many as 500 cases were pending in courts, he said. These lands, mostly within the city areas, if developed in the joint sector, would fetch substantial revenue for the port, he added.

The Buddhiraja Committee, appointed by the Government to suggest as to how to ensure prudent management of port lands, has made three sets of recommendations, one each for Kolkata and Mumbai ports and the other for other ports. The Government has accepted the recommendations for other ports and has asked them to proceed accordingly. But Kolkata and Mumbai ports, being old ports, owned substantial land areas mostly within the respective cities and needed special attention. The Government is yet to spell out its decisions on the Buddhiraja Committee's recommendation in respect of Mumbai and Kolkata ports which have also been asked to follow what has been approved for other ports.