It will be constituted along with 14 non-major ports in the state along 1,000 km coastline
File pic of Vizag port. (Photo: DC/File)
Kakinada: State government plans to expedite the process of establishing the Maritime Board which has been hanging in the balance for the last 10 years.
According to port officials, the board will be constituted along with 14 non-major ports in the state along 1,000 km coastline. The employees of the port department who were initially opposed to the move have now welcomed the move, but want to protect their jobs and other benefits they have been currently enjoying in government offices.
Currently, four ports, Kakinada Deepwater Port and Anchorage Port, Ravva Port (S. Yanam, East Godavari district), Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam ports are operating in the state. The new ports at Bhavanapadu, Megavaram, Kalingapatnam, Bhimunipatnam, Nakkapalli, KSEZ Green Field Port, Narasapuram, Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam and Vodarevu Ports are at the proposal stage and yet to be developed. State expects to attract an investment of nearly Rs 30,000 cr for all 14 ports.
A workshop was conducted in last week of October in Hyderabad for establishing the Maritime Board. Following which the employees agreed to join the Maritime Board, provided they are given some rights in the Act.
“All rules applicable to government employees will be applicable to the Maritime Board and all provisions to protect the employees have been stated in Maritime Board Draft Bill. However, we want the government to register the provisions with clarity without any lacunas in the Bill,”said Mr. Johnson president, Port Employees Welfare Association Adhoc Committee.
He said that the employees want the government to pay their pension through treasury offices. He also said that government should offer options to employees to continue in government services or Maritime Board.
“The employees need not worry about the Maritime Board as the directors will represent different departments, industrial units, port developments and shipping trade," said Port Officer in-charge P.V.B. Radhakrishna Murthy.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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