Delay in the formation of ministry at the Centre has stalled the process of appointment of a new board of trustees for Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT). The trustee board is the apex body for the port. | |
| The last board was constituted two years ago and a new one was due on April 1 this year. |
| |
| As the general election was declared by that time, ministry of shipping (MoS), which appoints the board, could not go ahead with the formation. |
| |
| Even as ministry of shipping is learnt to have to working on the contours of the new board, it will require the final approval from the shipping minister. |
| |
| Some of the members come in as 'other interest group' and are said to be political appointments. Thus, the new shape of the trustee board will only be known after new shipping minister takes charge. |
| |
| "The new board may take charge by end of this month. It should have been in place before election was declared and executed. In the uncertainty, valuable time was lost. Some important issues are held up," sources said. |
| |
| The board comprises the chairman of KoPT, two deputy chairmen, commerce and industry secretary of the state government, commissioner of customs (port), representative of the Coast Guard, Indian Oil Corporation (as the biggest port user), Mercantile Marine Department, Haldia Development Authority, Central Inland Water Transport Corporation (CIWTC), South Eastern Railway, two workers' unions, several chambers of commerce, shipping industry bodies and other interest groups (OIG). |
| |
| The last board excluded representation from the Association of Shipping Interest in Calcutta (ASIC), East India Shippers Association (EISA), Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI). Members under OIG was increased from three to five. Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) was inducted in the board. |
| |
| This time, ASIC and EISA as well BCCI and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) were expected to be represented. |
| |
|
| |
