Goa’s shipping industry, which is struggling to survive after last year’s ban on mining and the export of iron ore, is pinning its hopes on alternative cargoes to salvage their sinking business.
The shipping industry in the State was catering to 90-odd mining leases before the temporary ban came into force.
The Central Government has been encouraging the shift of cargo from roads to sea transport to reduce carbon footprint and also the pressure on highways infrastructure. This has given a new lease of life to Goa’s barge (ship) industry.
“Nationally, there is shift of cargo from road-rail to shipping. You can also get carbon credits for such a shift,” Atul Jadhav, President, Goa Barge Owners’ Association, told PTI.
The barge industry is looking for incentives to assist the logistics and transport industry achieve a sustained and long-term shift from road freight to short sea and inland waterway transportation.
Jadhav said the Kerala Government has already started giving shippers a per tonne per kilometre subsidy for the cargo shift from roads to waterways.
He said the Centre can offer a similar subsidy to barges in Goa which have been left without any cargo since September last year when mining leases were suspended and iron ore exports from the State came to a halt.
The fate of 400-odd barges, which generally operate in Goa’s rivers, is hanging in balance, waiting for the Supreme Court to allow iron ore exports.
Jadhav said the barges from Goa can venture into the deep sea and collect mining cargo from bigger vessels once the Ministry of Shipping declares waters up to four nautical miles off Goa’s shore “partially smooth waters”.
The vessels can operate in the deep sea only when an area is declared as “partially smooth water”, he said.
Atul Pai Kane, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Goa Chapter, said once these issues are settled, cargo such as cement, steel and coal can be transported within the State through barges instead of roads.
“Two companies have already sought permission from the Government to construct jetties in inland waters,” he said.