CBN Rajasthan Unit seizes nearly four tonnes of contrabands (See 'Corp Brief') Ministry of Tourism exchanges MoUs with industry partners to strengthen tourism promotion (See 'Corp Brief') India moving from Defence Importer to Trusted Global Defence Supplier: RM (See 'Corp Brief') A & C - High Court erred in holding that petitions filed u/s 34 of the Act were barred by limitation, considering that applications were filed well within statutory limitation period: SC (See 'Legal Desk') NZP to celebrate Wildlife Week 2026 from 2nd - 8th October 2026 (See 'Corp Brief') HM launches various initiatives related to women empowerment in Kollam (See 'Corp Brief') Medical colleges rise from 387 to over 800: Patel (See 'Corp Brief') TradeMarks - When special law like Trade Marks Act restricts institution of suits to courts not inferior to District Judge, it remains entirely consistent with Commercial Courts Act, provided High Courts designate District Judges as commercial courts - case referred to Larger Bench: SC (See 'Legal Desk') ICAT marks 20 Years of Excellence with PM e-Drive Dialogue with the industry (See 'Corp Brief') From Rural Needs to Real-World Solutions: RuTAG 2.0 focuses on deepening Technology Impact (See 'Corp Brief') India International Water Week 2026 concludes with Focus on Climate-Resilient Management (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Period of limitation u/s 34(3) of Arbitration Act must be reckoned from date of disposal of Sec 33 application, regardless of whether such application is ultimately found to be frivolous or sham: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Board reviews measures for Trader Welfare and Export Promotion (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Civil remedy u/s 55 of Copyright Act can be pursued through arbitration as agreed alternative dispute resolution mechanism: HC (See 'Legal Desk') DRI seizes 9.40 kg gold worth Rs. 15 crore at Mumbai airport (See 'Corp Brief') NLMC concludes 3-City Investor Outreach Programme for RINL Land E-Auction (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - If a company is employed as conduit for shielding assets from creditors, Court may look beyond corporate structure, for piercing veil: HC (See 'Legal Desk') MEE-TR 2026 to introduce 'Solid Waste Management' as separate Evaluation Criterion of Tiger Reserves (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - If party adopts mark that is deceptively similar to registered mark for identical goods, with full knowledge of prior statutory and common law rights, such adoption constitutes infringement: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Nadda inaugurates Arogya Manthan 2026, marking 8 years of AB PM-JAY (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Requiring plaintiff to sue at place of its subordinate office because cause of action has arisen there would amount to re-writing Sec 134 of Trade Marks Act: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Union Minister inaugurates Seva First Innovation Challenge at IISc Bengaluru (See 'Corp Brief') Companies Act - Admission of winding-up petition, appointment of provisional liquidator or liquidator, or possession of assets by liquidator does not, by itself, establish irreversibility thereof: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Bharat CPSEs' Consultative Conclave inaugurated at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (See 'Corp Brief') Competition - Formulation of technical specifications & procurement requirements falls primarily within domain of procuring entities, which are at liberty to set terms suited to their needs - no case of contravention of Sections 3 or 4 is made out: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') SAIL's 54th AGM highlights strong value added steel growth (See 'Corp Brief') An unsuccessful 'success fee' litigation (See CORP EINSICHT)

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