Draft Indian Ports Bill, 2020
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has opened up the draft Indian Ports Bill 2020 for public consultation. The bill will replace the Indian Ports Act, 1908
Draft Indian Ports Bill, 2020
- The draft Indian-Ports bill seeks to enable the structured growth and sustainable development of ports. This would attract more investments in the Port sector for the optimum utilisation of the Indian Coastline.
- The bill seeks to organise an effective administration and management of ports.
- The bill provides measure to facilitate the conservation of ports with respect to the high number of non-operational ports.
- It will also ensure a greater investment in the Indian maritime and ports sector.
- The bill seeks to create improved, comprehensive regulatory frameworks in order to create new ports and management of existing ports.
- The bill will also create enabling environment for the growth and sustained development of the ports sector. It will be done by:
- Constituting the Maritime Port Regulatory Authority
- Formulating National Port policy and National Port plan
- Formulating the specialised Adjudicatory Tribunals namely Maritime Ports Tribunal and Maritime Ports Appellate Tribunal. This would help in curbing the anti-competitive practises. Thus, it would ensure the speedy and affordable grievance redressal mechanism.
Significance
It will ensure safety, pollution control, security, performance standards and sustainability of Ports. It will incorporate all the up-to-date conventions or protocols to which India is a party. It will help in promoting the marine safety and security. It will fill up the gaps to achieve the scientific development of Ports and Port Network.