(a) whether the Government propose to improve the status of port trusts in Tamil Nadu;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the expenditure likely to be incurred on it;
(c) whether the Government have also set up any committee to look into the affairs of the Port Trusts in the process of cargo handling;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the cargo handled and the income generated through this Port Trust during the last three years?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI SHRIPAD Y. NAIK)
(a) & (b) : Tamil Nadu has three Major Ports. While the Ports of Chennai and Tuticorin have been in existence for some time, the new Port at Ennore is India`s first corporatized major Port which was dedicated to the Nation in February, 2001. In order to grant flexibility to management in taking commercial and investment decision, it has been decided to corporatize the Major Ports, including the major port trusts in Tamil Nadu, in a phased manner. To enable corporatization of Major Ports, the Major Ports Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2001 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 31.8.2001, which stands referred to the Department Related Standing Committee on Transport and Tourism for examination and report
(c) : Government has not set up any Committee to look into the affairs of port trusts in the process of cargo handling.
(d) : Does not arise.
(e) : Details of cargo handled and the income generated by Chennai and Tuticorin Ports for the last three years is as follows:-
CHENNAI PORT
YEAR TRAFFIC HANDLED IN MILLION TONNES INCOME FROM CARGO HANDLING (RS. IN CRORES)
1999-2000 37.44 335.90 2000-2001 41.22 365.26 2001-2002 36.11 335.66 (provisional)
TUTICORIN PORT
YEAR TRAFFIC HANDLED IN MILLION TONNES INCOME FROM CARGO HANDLING (RS. IN CRORES)
1999-2000 9.99 102.17 2000-2001 12.28 131.28 2001-2002 13.02 128.57 (provisional)