Though there was no specific announcement in Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s speech regarding port-led development of marine States, there appears to be some indication this time that it is an aspect under the Union government’s consideration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his election rally here on April 18, 2014, had spoken highly about the port-led development of marine States, which could spur economic activity.
Mr. Jaitley, in his budget speech, said, “As the success of so-called minor ports has shown, ports can be an attractive investment possibility for the private sector…ports in public sector will be encouraged, to corporatise, and become companies under the Companies Act.”
Incidentally, the State government had been toying with the idea of developing minor ports by private players. Minister for Ports Baburao Chinchansur had said that private players evinced interest to develop four of the 12 minor ports in the State.
Nigam B. Vasani, president of Mangaluru-based Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that privatising ports would lead to an increase in business as shown in the case of a port developed near Bhavnagar in Gujarat. Stationeries, pulses, rubber and solvents and fuel oils can be transported through boats.
The former member of the Karnataka Planning Board G.V. Joshi said that ports were the country’s assets and should not be given to private players. Instead the public sector should develop them and provide employment opportunities – though a maritime board is yet to be established in Karnataka.
In his view, port-led development should mean reduction in turn-around time of ships (the time taken to unload merchandise and head back after landing at the ports) should be reduced to make ports more efficient as is done in Singapore.
The minor ports on the Karnataka coast are Karwar, Belekeri, Tadri, Pavinakurve, Honnavar, Manki, Bhatkal, Kundapur, Hangarkatta, Malpe, Padubidri and Old Mangalore Port. The port in Karwar is the only all-weather port, while the other 11 are classified as ‘reverine lighterage ports’.
From 3,000 B.C. ports on the Karnataka coast had been trading with Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Jerusalem and West Asia. A warrior Shivappa Nayaka ousted the Portuguese of their possessions on the West Coast, namely Mangalore, Honnavar and Basrur. Then, Tippu Sultan used Mangalore Port for his foreign trade.
(Source: Dept of Ports).