PANAJI: The laws introduced by the Union ministry of shipping, particularly the draft Indian ports bill and the Major Ports Authorities Act, 2021, could dilute and impinge on the powers of the state government with respect to minor ports and enable their privatisation, the Goa government has said. While chief minister Pramod Sawant wrote to the Union ports minister on June 17 conveying Goa’s concerns regarding the Major Ports Authorities Act, 2021, the Captain of Ports submitted the state’s concerns regarding the draft lndian ports bill 2021 on June 23.
Strangely, while revenue minister Jennifer Monserrate said that the Act would not have any implications for Goa, particularly on the rivers and port limits, TCP minister Chandrakant Kavlekar said that the Central law is in “conflict with the Land Revenue Code and other state Acts” and should be reconsidered.
“The likely implications include redundancy of the Goa Town & Country Planning Act and the Regional Plan/ODPs prepared thereunder, the Goa Municipalities Act, Goa Panchayat Raj Act, Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010, and Goa Land Revenue Code in respect of area under the port limits constituted by major ports, subject to any rights of private property therein and consequent revenue loss,” said Kavlekar.
Sawant wrote to the Union shipping minister on June 17 conveying Goa’s concerns. “The members of the legislative assembly have raised their concerns regarding the above bill. The verbatim recordings of the assembly proceedings are attached to highlight the concerns of the members of the Goa legislative assembly for your consideration,” said Sawant in his letter.
A letter by the revenue department has also been sent, asking the Centre to reconsider the bill in view of Goa’s laws and the conflict between the Major Ports Authorities Act, 2021, and Goa’s Land Revenue Code and other state Acts.
CoP has also submitted a list of concerns and suggested changes in the draft Indian ports bill.
Ports minister Michael Lobo said that the Goa government is aware that the draft bill contains several provisions that directly and indirectly dilute and impinge on powers of states with respect to minor ports and enables their privatisation.
Lobo said that while Goa is still seeking comments from stakeholders, it has also communicated Goa’s concerns to the Centre.
