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State to draw up new port policy

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government will soon prepare a port policy to make proper use of the 480 km coastline for the economic progress of the State.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik issued instructions in this regard while attending a meeting here on Thursday. The meeting was held at the State Secretariat where a presentation was made by experts from Indian Institute of Management, Chennai about the expansion of port facilities in the State.

According to the plan prepared by the Chennai IIT, the State had the need to develop 15 to 20 more ports along its coast. While only 60 million tonnes of cargo was being handled by the two existing ports at Paradip and Gopalpur per year at present, the cargo handling capacity of the State’s ports could be increased to 300 million tonnes per year by 2017, according to the study.

The cargo handling capacity of the various ports of the country was likely to increase to 2,000 million tonnes by 2012.

By facilitating establishment of more ports along its coast, Orissa could handle one-sixth of the entire cargo, the study indicated.

The ports will primarily be used for transportation of coal. The States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand can also use the ports in the State.

According to an official release, the Chief Minister has also directed the Commerce and Transport Department to develop various waterways for inland transportation. The development of water ways by use of the rivers, rivulets and sea paths would lead to decrease in transportation cost and ease traffic on the roads, Mr. Patnaik has said.

Among others who attended the presentation meeting included State Commerce and Transport Minister Jayanarayan Mishra and Development Commissioner R.N.Bohidar.

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