Sahitya Akademi award-winner Joe D’Cruz, a supporter-turned-critic of the BJP government at the Centre, has been appointed as a member of the National Shipping Board, functioning under the Union Ministry of Shipping.
“I have received the gazette notification for the appointment,” Mr. Cruz told The Hindu on Sunday, reiterating that India, with 13 major ports, should concentrate on modernising them instead of constructing new ports.
“What is the need to dump over ₹30,000 crore in Inayam when we could modernise the existing port and improve the shipping trade. We already have a lot of litigation with companies and the root cause of the problem is lack of space. We should ensure that ships are allowed to move smoothly, and the industry will flourish,” he said.
Mr. Cruz, who has 30 years experience in the shipping industry, explained that the international trading community was familiar with the existing major ports and these ports should be strengthened by small contributing ports.
Asked about the appointment, he said he was in touch with the Shipping Ministry for which he prepared a document: Indian Shipping Industry — The Need of the Hour.
“Almost all the ports in the country are 50 years old. On the one hand, we have to improve the infrastructure, and on the other, we should effect a change in the mindset of bureaucracy-driven work force with an isolated thinking,” he said.
“Even though China has limited resources, and unfavourable climatic conditions and geographical locations, it is leading in the shipping sector since it has a vision for the industry. India, a tropical country, can have a thriving shipping industry throughout the year since the ports are also nearer the hinterland. However, we lack a vibrant shipping policy and there is no clarity about the length of the coastal line,” he added.
As a way out, Mr. Cruz said, every port in the country should be developed as a cargo-specific facility and these ports should not be allowed to handle “dirty cargo.”
“By allowing ports to handles all types of cargoes, we have unnecessarily created unhealthy competition among our ports. If Colombo has emerged as an international port, it is because it has shifted the dirty cargo to other ports,” he explained.
Mr. Cruz, who has had hands-on experience in passenger shipping, said ports were the face of the nation and cleanliness was very vital for improving the shipping trade.
