Orissa plans maritime board

Following the foot prints of states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu , the Orissa government is planning to set up a Maritime Development Board (MDB) for the minor ports in Orissa.

The board is proposed to be vested with authority and power to plan, direct and implement the maritime development projects in the state with the private sector participation.

The government has initiated the process of forming the board and it is likely to be completed within next 2 to 3 months. The body will evolve an integrated ‘Maritime Master Plan’ in consultation with the experts in this field. Besides, it will evolve an integrated approach covering port and infrastructural development.

“We are studying the composition and the working of maritime board formed in states like Gujrat and working out the modalities of forming such a board in the state”, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, commissioner-secretary, commerce and transport department (C&T) told Business Standard.

However, the sources in law department said, the C&T department has already prepared a draft bill named as ‘The Orissa Maritime Board Bill’ and referred it to the law department for comments on the draft.

As per the draft, the board will have power to acquire, hold and dispose off the property, both movable and immovable. It is proposed to have a chairman, vice-chairman and 7 to 12 members. The government will make the appointments to the board which will include representatives from the department in charge of administration of minor ports in the state.

Besides, the proposed board will have representatives from the industry, water resources, finance, forest and environment, law and coast guard.

The director, ports and inland water transport, government of Orissa, will be the member secretary and an officer of the C&T department not below the rank of Joint Secretary is proposed to be the vice-chairman of the board. The secretary, commerce and transport department or the development commissioner could be the chairman of the board, sources added.

He will exercise power of supervision and control over the actions of all the employees of the board in matters of executive administration.