Question : Privatization of Ports

(a) the features of Sagarmala Projects;
(b) whether the Government is handing over the ports to private parties under these projects;

(c) if so, the details and the number of ports handed over to private parties within Tamil Nadu;

(d) whether the Government has also handed over the port expansion in Kattupalli to private parties and if so, the reasons therefor; and

(e) whether the Government is aware that the proposed expansion would affect the people living in the villages of Tamil Nadu including flood risks for Tiruvallur and Chennai and submergence of many fishing hamlets under sea water if the Kattupalli port is expanded?

(a) to (e). A statement is laid on the Table of House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *59 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2021 RAISED BY DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY REGARDING “PRIVATIZATION OF PORTS”.

(a) The four broad objective of Sagarmala Programme are port modernization & new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port led industrialization and coastal community development. The Sagarmala Programme intend to achieve the broad objective of enhancing the capacity of major and non-major ports and modernizing them to make them efficient.

Under Sagarmala, 504 Project at an estimated infrastructure investment of Rs. 3.55 Lakhs Crores have been identified. Out of these, 159 Projects have been completed.

(b) & (c) Under Sagarmala Programme, Government is not handing over ports to private parties.

(d) Government of India has not handed over any port in Kattupalli. However, Government of Tamil Nadu has informed that Tamil Nadu Maritime Board has granted approval for the expansion of Kattupalli Port by private developer.
(e) As a part of project development, the developer is required to undertake necessary clearance which includes public consultation to mitigate negative impacts. The developer is yet to obtain the CRZ and environment clearances.

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