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India


Sufficient allocations be made to major ports, Sagarmala project in Budget: Par Stg comm.

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) Observing that the amount allocated under the 2016-17 annual Budget for development of major ports in the country was insignificant, a Parliamentary Standing committee on transport, tourism and culture has recommended that sufficient allocations be made to the major ports to enable them to complete the ongoing projects and the projects to be undertaken during the current fiscal. In its report submitted in the Rajya Sabha last week, the Parliamentary Standing committee has taken serious view of the fact that the amount allocated for major ports was insignificant compared to the role and importance of the ports in earning revenues for the country and generating employment on a large scale. ‘’Many of the major ports have not got any allocation this year and some ports have got very negligible amount. Many important projects of the major ports, as mentioned in the ministry of shipping, have been kept aside due to non allocation of funds,'' the committee said in its report. The committee noted that the Ports sector have been allocated only Rs 29 crore wherein various major ports require additional fund of R 388.61 crore for meeting the commitments made by them during 2016-17. The committee recommended that sufficient fund allocations may be made in the major ports at the revised estimates stage so that they can complete the ongoing projects and the projects to be undertaken during 2016-17. The committee has also recommended additional allocation for the Sagarmala project that is intended for an integrated development of the Indian ports and shipping sectors. Welcoming the project, the Standing committee has expressed the hope that the project would be able to enhance the capacity of major and non major ports and modernizing them to make them efficient, thereby enabling them to become drivers of economic development, optimizing the use of existing and future transport assets and developing new lines and linkages for all modes of transport. ‘’The committee notes that in order to carry out all the proposed activities under Sagarmala, the Ministry requires Rs 1000 cr this year. However, the allocation is only Rs 450 crore. The committee recommends for granting additional funds at the revised estimates stage,’’the report of the committee said. The committee has said that the three upcoming major ports may be completed within the proposed time limit itself as a landmark achievement. The committee has also recommended that more allocations be made for the shipping sector. ‘’The committee notes that compared to 2015-16, the allocation for Shipping and Ship Building sector is insufficient as only Rs 48.23 cr has been allocated. The Committee recommends that more allocations be made at the estimates stage in view of various projects planned to be undertaken by the ministry in future,’’the report said. The committee also suggested that the Shipping Corporation of India phase out its old ships and go for purchasing new and fuel efficient vessels. ‘’The committee understands that some of the ships owned by the Shipping Corporation of India limited are aged and needed to be phased out. The committee recommends that if the international market situations are viable, they may go for purchasing new fuel efficient vehicles in place of old ones,’’the report said. While noting that compared to the 11th Plan period, the capacity of major ports has increased considerably during the 12th Plan period, the Standing Committee, however, observed that the major ports are utilizing only two thirds of their capacity. ‘’The committee notes that compared to the 11th Plan period, the capacity of major ports has increased considerably during the 12th Plan period. As a result, the major ports have 965MT capacities now. However, the committee is constrained to note that the major ports are utilizing only its two thirds capacity. The committee recommends that along with capacity addition masures, the major ports should adapt suitable measures so that its full capacity could be utilized throughout the year,’’the report said. UNI AR ADG 1050
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