Centre plans inspection drives and field verification to ensure compliance (See 'Corp Brief') India continues to rank 3rd in Annual Forest Gain (See 'Corp Brief') RERA - Promoters are mandatorily required to comply with statutory condition of pre-deposit u/s 43(5) of Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 before appeal can be entertained: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Government intervention and Corporate governance (See CORP EINSICHT) Prof Sood launched 'AI Playbooks for Agriculture and SMEs' (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Once scheme of arrangement is sanctioned in particular manner and is acted upon, it is no longer permissible for secured creditor to resile therefrom unilaterally: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CCI nod to Setu AIF Trust to acquire stakes in Edelweiss Asset & Edelweiss Trusteeship (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Mere adoption of product-by-process format would not result in novel product being downgraded to Section 48(b) of Patent Act: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CSIR hosts Capacity Building Workshop for Dissemination of Indian Knowledge System (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - issues pertaining to unauthorized business operations, public health & regulatory violations, not demonstrating any anti-competitive agreement or concerted action u/s 3 of the Act, cannot be looked into by CCI: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') 12 lakh Railway Employees working Day and Night during Festive Season: Vaishnaw (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Restrictions contained in Code of Civil Procedure apply even in cases relating to enforcement of foreign arbitral awards: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Ministry of Mines introduces Timelines to Fast-track Operationalisation of Auctioned Blocks (See 'Corp Brief') RTI/IBC - Mechanism of the RTI Act cannot be commandeered for grievance redressal, policy suggestions, or compelling interpretations of prior responses: IBBI (See 'Legal Desk') Supreme Court Restores JSW's Resolution Plan in Bhushan Power Case: A Pragmatic Turn in IBC Jurisprudence (See CORP EINSICHT ) BSNL turns profitable after 18 Years: Scindia (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Withdrawal of CIRP cannot be permitted merely on the basis of a unilateral settlement with one minor creditor, particularly when other bigger Financial Creditors oppose it: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') Chouhan to meet Ministers of 11 Ministries for 'Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' (See 'Corp Brief') SEBI - PayTM founder held guilty of circumventing SEBI regulations to unlawfully grant ESOPs to self and brother by mis-representing promoter status and control - contravened disclosure & eligibility norms of SEBI - barred from accepting ESOPs for three-year period: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') NITI Aayog's Women Entrepreneurship Platform and DP World launch 'We Rise' initiative (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Mere pendency of formal signature by one party, when other party has signed agreement after reading its terms including arbitration clause, does not prevent parties from being referred to arbitration: HC (See 'Legal Desk') MoS unveils Curtain Raiser for 4-day India International Science Festival (See 'Corp Brief') PMLA - Secured creditor such as finance company not left without remedy, where properties acquired even prior to scheduled offence period are attached as value equivalent: SAFEMA Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk')

22 Sagarmala projects worth Rs. 1,225 crore sanctioned in Tamil Nadu: Sonowal

Published: Jul 31, 2024

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, JULY 31, 2024: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, presented a detailed overview of the various questions raised in today's Rajya Sabha session. He highlighted the government's efforts to enhance cargo movement through National Waterways (NWs). The Minister outlined several key initiatives to improve the efficiency of India's inland waterways. Significant fairway development projects are underway under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), which is supported by the World Bank. These efforts include achieving a Least Available Depth (LAD) of up to 3.0 meters on critical stretches of NW-1, with ongoing works in stretches such as Haldia-Barh and Barh-Ghazipur. Additionally, fairway development is being carried out on NW-97 in the Sunderbans and on Indo-Bangladesh protocol routes to ensure round-the-year navigability.

Sonowal emphasizes the introduction and expansion of Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax services across several routes. The Minister also announced the identification and planned development of 26 new National Waterways. This expansion is intended to offer alternative transportation modes and enhance connectivity across various regions of India.

Digital advancements have been a key focus, with the launch of the CAR-D portal for cargo data management and the PANI portal for detailed asset and navigation information. These platforms are designed to facilitate better stakeholder collaboration, improve organizational consistency, and enhance transparency.

Moreover, recent MoUs were signed to boost cargo and cruise services. Notable agreements include partnerships with Assam Tourism for riverine tourism, Bihar's Department of Tourism for Ro-Pax vessel operations, and Numaligarh Refinery Limited for petroleum product transport. The government is also exploring new National Waterways projects in states such as Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen India's inland water transport infrastructure.

Sarbananda Sonowal also detailed the significant investments and initiatives under the Sagarmala Scheme for Tamil Nadu. Over the past three years, 22 port-related projects totalling Rs. 1,225 crore have been sanctioned, covering port infrastructure, coastal berths, and fish harbours. Additionally, Rs. 410 crore is allocated for four fishing harbour projects, with efforts focused on skill development and economic growth in coastal districts through collaboration with various ministries.

The Minister confirmed that the government has indeed explored the possibilities of increasing floating jetty projects in Tamil Nadu. These projects are part of a broader initiative to enhance coastal infrastructure and improve connectivity.

Regarding the expansion and upgradation of ports, Sonowal outlined significant developments. Notably, V.O. Chidambaram Port has leased 500.82 acres of land to various industries for the development of Green Hydrogen and ammonia plants, reflecting a commitment to sustainable energy and industrial growth.

Overall, the Minister's detailed presentation underscores the government's commitment to developing robust and efficient maritime facilities.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES