Bangalore: Mangalore Port to be Developed on PPP Model
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Dec 9: All the ports in Karnataka, including Old Mangalore Port, are to be developed on Public-Private-Partnership model under a legislative bill moved in the State Assembly on Friday.
Under the Karnataka Maritime Board Bill 2011, which was moved by Karnataka’s Ports and Inland Water Transport, Ecology and Environment, Fisheries and Science and Technology Minister J Krishna Palemar, a Maritime Board is proposed to set up for looking after the ports.
The Old Mangalore Port in Dakshina Kannada, Malpe Fisheries Harbour in Udupi District, Karwar and Tadri in Uttara Kannada district are among the ports, which are presently looked after by the State Public Works Department, which are proposed to be developed under the PPP model.
The Bill providing for constitution and functioning of the Maritime Board in the State, seeks to enable the Board ''to find ways and means to undertake various developmental projects and maintenance activities in relation to ports, harbours, inland waterways and coastal protection and thus help in the growth and development of the coastal region and its hinterland.”
It also provides for development and maintenance of fishing harbours by the Board with suitable budgetary grants and subventions from the State Government.
''However, the operations and management of the fishing harbours shall continue to be done by the Fisheries Department and not by the Maritime Board,” the statement of objects and reasons for the Bill said.
Karnataka has a coast line of about 300 kms, dotted with 10 non-major ports, besides the major port in New Mangalore.
The non-major ports, which include Karwar, Malpe harbour, Tadri and Old Mangalore, are currently managed by the Public Works Department through the Director of Ports and Inland Water Transport (IWT).
The Bill is yet to be taken up for consideration in the House.
Assembly passes VTU Bill
In the meanwhile, the State Assembly passed the Visvesvaraya Technological University (Amendment) Bill, 2011, which provides the provisions to maintain disciplinary and controlling measures against erring vice-chancellors and other staff of the university.
The Bill aims at amending the Visvesvaraya Technological University Act, 1994. It also envisages appointment of a special officer or commission of enquiry consisting of one or more persons to enquire into any specific allegations against any employee of the university in respect of any matter connected with or ancillary thereto and also in respect of any irregularities, including construction of buildings, laboratories, libraries, museums, workshops and equipment of any institution maintained.
The Bill also seeks to set up a mechanism for probing the irregularities in connection with the examinations, teaching and evaluation and other work conducted or done by the university and in to any specific allegations against any employee of the university like manner in respect of any matter connected with or ancillary thereto.
The Special Officer or the commission should submit a report of the result of the inspection or inquiry to the chancellor and should forward a copy to the State government.
It also seeks to empower the State government to annul any order, notification, resolution or any proceedings of the university which in its opinion is not in conformity with the provisions of the Act or the statutes, regulations or ordinances or the policy of the State government.
The Mysore (Religious and Charitable) Inams Abolition (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2011, was also passed in the Assembly with a voice vote. It provides for redesignating the post of Divisional Commissioner as Regional Commissioner.
The Bill amended the Mysore (Religious and Charitable) Inams Abolition Act, 1955, to empower the Regional Commissioner to reconsider the tasthik amount fixed by the Deputy Commissioner.