New Port Bill to hit coastal states' autonomy: Naveen

The Indian Ports Bill-2011 has drawn flak from the Orissa government with the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stating that the new Bill will take away the rights of coastal states including Orissa.

“The proposed amendment to the Indian Ports Act by the Government of India will take away the rights of state governments including that of Orissa. As regards fixing of port limits, I have written to the Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of coastal states that the move of the Centre would interfere with the federal rights of the states,” Patnaik told newspersons here.

In his letter, Patnaik has stated that under the new Bill, the state governments will have no powers to fix port limits of minor ports under their administrative control. Moreover, according to the new Bill, the Centre does not need to consult the state governments for fixing port limits of major ports.

Patnaik has requested the Chief Ministers of coastal states like Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra to oppose the Bill in the interest of their respective states. He opined that the new Bill seeks to hinder port development in coastal states.