Growth disparity between Major and Minor Ports

NEW DELHI : Major Ports are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ports other than Major Ports (Non-Major/Minor) are under the jurisdiction of respective State Government. 12 Major Port in the country accounts for the bulk of India’s cargo handling capacity and have benefitted from substantial investments in infrastructure, modernization, and automation. For a balanced and sustained growth of the Indian port sector, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways under Sagarmala Scheme is providing financial assistance to State Government / UT for development of port infrastructure.

The details of cargo handled by Major Ports and Non-Major Ports is annexed. [Annexure-I]

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has undertaken implementation of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) to augment the capacity of National Waterway-1 (NW-1) (from Varanasi to Haldia, 1390 Kilometer stretch). The development objective of JMVP is to enhance transport efficiency and reliability of NW-1 which passes through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Under JMVP, the details of developments in Bihar along with employment generation is annexed. [Annexure-II]. The number of people directly employed at Major Ports and Non-Major Ports is annexed. [Annexure-III]

Ministry constituted Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) in the year 1997, an apex advisory body for the development of maritime sector and aims to ensure development of Major and Non-Major Ports, in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new Minor Ports by the respective Maritime States either directly or through captive users and private participation. Till date, twenty meetings of MSDC have been held. Further, under Sagarmala, the Government aims holistic port infrastructure development along the coastline though modernisation, mechanisation and computerisation.

Sagarmala is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing lndia’s 7,500 km long coastline, and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways. Under the Sagarmala Scheme, the Ministry provides financial assistance to State/UT Governments for Port infrastructure projects, Coastal berth projects, Road & Rail projects, fishing harbours, skill development projects, Coastal community development, cruise terminal and projects such as Ro-Pax ferry services. Ministry has till date provided partial assistance to 71 projects at a total Cost of Rs. 4925 Cr. for development of Non-Major Ports under Sagarmala Scheme.

Annexure-I

Annexure-II

Annexure-III

Employment of Manpower at Major Ports and Non-Major Ports

This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.