Question : DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORT

(a) the action taken by the Government on the request of Kerala to provide financial assistance for coastal shipping;

(b) the action taken by the Government on the request for exemption from luxury tax levied for tourist-passenger boards used for coastal shipping;

(c) the action taken on the request for establishing Plant Quarantine Emigration Office at Kollam;

(d) the steps taken on the request for financial assistance for establishing container, freight station at Kollam, and

(e) the steps taken on financial assistance for providing crane facility in the Kollam port under Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development of Exports (ASIDE) scheme?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a)&(d): There is no scheme under the Ministry of Shipping to give financial assistance for development of coastal shipping and establishing container freight station in any non-major port including Kollam Port. As per Indian Ports Act, 1908, the respective State Governments have overall jurisdiction on the Non-major Ports and are responsible for their development. Luxury Tax subject falls under the domain of State Government.

(e) As per information received from Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India the request for financial assistance for providing crane facility in the Kollam was examined in that Department and the State Government of Kerala was informed that the Empowered Committee in its meeting held on 5th July, 2013 had decided that procurement of port handling cranes at Kollam may be taken up under the State Component of Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development of Exports (ASIDE) Scheme as the port is owned by Government of Kerala.