Stalin urges nine CMs to oppose draft Indian Ports Bill

A gathering of the MSDC has been known as with the state ministers to debate the Invoice.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Tuesday wrote to his counterparts in 9 states, proposing that every one coastal states and Union territories object to the brand new draft Indian Ports Invoice, 2021, and take joint motion to stop any transfer to dilute the powers vested with the states.

He requested the Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Puducherry governments to speak their opposition to the Invoice in the course of the Maritime State Improvement Council (MSDC) assembly on Thursday.

Stalin stated the Union ministry of ports, transport and waterways has framed a brand new draft Indian Ports Invoice, 2021, to switch the present administration mannequin of minor ports. A gathering of the MSDC has been known as with the state ministers to debate the Invoice.

As per the Indian Ports Act, 1908, the powers to plan, develop, regulate and management minor ports vests with the state governments involved. Nevertheless, the brand new draft Invoice proposes to switch many of those powers to the MSDC, which has to this point solely been an advisory physique. Additional, many powers exercised by state governments might be taken over by the Union authorities, the letter stated.

Stalin stated the Invoice, if handed, could have long-term antagonistic implications for the administration of minor ports. “Now we have already taken up the problem with the Union ministry for ports and transport, strongly opposing such steps to scale back the autonomous position of states within the regulation and administration of minor ports,” he stated.