The Shipping Ministry is extremely perturbed over the way the governments in various States are liberally allocating the country's waterfront to various private firms for developing cargo handling and other facilities without consulting the Centre.

“It not only violates the relevant provisions of the Central laws but also goes against the Union Government's avowed policy of ensuring judicious use of the country's precious coastal waters,” observe Ministry sources.

Jurisdiction issue

The management and maintenance of coastline falls within the jurisdiction of the Union Government (the formation of the Coast Guard under the Indian Navy is a case in point) and any allocation of the coastal waters, therefore, requires prior permission of the Ministry concerned in Delhi. Unfortunately, this is not being done. On many occasions, the States are turning a blind eye to indiscriminate use of coastline by private firms. If the present practice goes unchecked, soon there will be little space left for development of projects of national interest by the Centre, it is apprehended.

No clear guidelines

The issue of proper Central control over the coastline has been engaging the attention of the Shipping Ministry for some time, particularly in view of the absence of clear guidelines in this regard. It assumed special significance in the context of recent controversy over extending the limit of the Kolkata port in national interest. The Orissa Government has opposed it saying such extension will harm some of the private ports being set up in the State.

The Shipping Ministry has made it clear to the Orissa Government that it is committed to the development of port facilities in Orissa as much as in other coastal States but national interest comes first. The extension of the limit of Kolkata port by the Ministry has been done keeping in view the projects of national interest.

What the Ministry resents is the failure of the Orissa Government to keep the Union Government posted before allocating coasts to private parties for setting up ports, more so because the limits set by the State Government for some of these ports also fall into the areas which are within the jurisdiction of the Union Government.

No clear picture

Worse, in most such ports, there is no clear picture available as yet in regard to the volume and types of traffic to be handled. As many as 14 port projects have been cleared by the present Government in Orissa, it is pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Opposition in Orissa has alleged kickbacks in port deals which, it demands, must be scrapped in favour of international competitive bidding.

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