Karnataka on Friday tabled in the Legislative Assembly a bill providing for developing all ports in the State on a Public Private Partnership basis. The Karnataka Maritime Board Act, 2011 was introduced by Minister for Ports and Inland Water Transport, Ecology and Environment, Fisheries and Science and Technology, J Krishna Palemar.
The bill provides for constitution and functioning of the Maritime Board for the State. “The Board shall be in a position to find ways and means to undertake various developmental projects and maintenance activities in relation to ports, harbours, inland waterways and coastal protection and thus help in the growth and development of the coastal region and its hinterland,” according to statement of objects and reasons for the bill.
It also provides for development and maintenance of fishing harbours by the Board with suitable budgetary grants and subventions from the government. “However, the operations and management of the fishing harbours shall continue to be done by the Fisheries Department and not by the Maritime Board,” it was noted.
Karnataka has a coast line of about 300 kms, dotted with 10 non-major ports, besides the major port in New Mangalore. These non-major ports, which include Karwar, Malpe harbour, Tadri and Old Mangalore, are presently managed by the public works department through the Director of Ports and Inland Water Transport (IWT).