Ports Bill will lead to Centre appropriating States’ authority: Odisha

Its Commerce and Transport Minister cautions Centre against taking up the Bill in haste

The Odisha government has accused the Centre of attempting to appropriate the authority of coastal States through the proposed Indian Ports Bill, 2021. “At present, the authority to make regulations for non-major ports for most subjects is with the State maritime boards or government of coastal States. The Union government, through the Maritime States Development Council (MSDC), seeks to appropriate this authority of the State through the proposed bill,” Odisha Commerce and Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera said cautioning the Centre against taking up the Indian Ports Bill, 2021 in haste. “We object to this proposed appropriation of State authority by the Union government. The proposed provision, instead of making India a strong maritime nation through its centralisation of authority, will stunt the growth of port-led development in the nation. Also, this proposal is against the very spirit of cooperative federalism and empowerment of States,” Mr. Behera said in a letter to Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.