After criticising the Centre over the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Gujarat Government has now strongly opposed its proposed Port Regulatory Authority Bill, saying that the Bill would prove detrimental to the development of ports in the country, particularly those in the state.

According to Mr Saurabh Patel, Gujarat Minister for Finance, Industries, Planning and Petrochemicals, the proposed Bill intends to take away the autonomy and freedom of the state governments without considering the legal framework.

“Government of Gujarat has already submitted its views on the draft Port Authority Bill 2011 and is strongly opposing it. It will request the government and the Ministry of Shipping to have an open discussion on the matter,” Mr Patel told reporters.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Maritime States Development Council meeting concluded here yesterday.

Ports in Gujarat have achieved 12.34 per cent annual growth in traffic during 2010-11, while the total growth rate of major ports all over the country was 1.6 per cent and the growth rate of non-major ports was 8.7 per cent during the same period.

Cargo volume at Gujarat’s non-major ports has increased from 73 million tonnes in 2000-01 to 231 mt in 2010-11, growing by 12.2 per cent annually, compared to the national cargo of 368 mt in 2000-01 to 821 mt in 2009-10, growing by 9.3 per cent annually, he pointed out.

Compared to the existing capacity of 273 mt of Gujarat non-major ports, the state is committed to increase the port capacity to 508 mt by 2014-15 and 870 mt by 2019-20.

“An estimated investment to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore is coming up in port sector and many new projects have already been implemented. In fact, our endeavour is to increase the capacity four-fold by 2020 (244 mt in 2009-10 to more than 1,000 mt in 2019-20),” Mr Patel said.

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