Gujarat Assembly passes Maritime Board Amendment bill

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Assembly today passed Gujarat Maritime Board(Amendment) bill – 2017.

Gujarat Maritime Board at present as administrative charge gets 15% share of total tax it collects at various ports. The rest of the share goes to the State government. With passing of new bill, GMB will get more share from the State government when needed.

Sharing more details, minister Shankarbhai Chaudhary said the state government at present gives 15% amount of total revenue through ports to Maritime Board. Such revenue is earned by GMB through landing fee, shipping fee, water front royalty, lighterage charges etc.

In last three years, Gujarat government earned Rs 360.83 crore in 2013, Rs 742.03 crore in 2014, Rs 922.24 crore in 2015 and Rs 807 crore upto February 2017 in financial year 2016.

Chaudhary said GMB ports in year 2016 handled 2,845 lakh metric tonne cargo and earned Rs 560.35 crore revenue by February 2017.

He said the central government and state government have jointly given grant of Rs 377 crore for Dahej – Ghogha Ro-Ro ferry project. Similarly the Centre has given Rs 7.60 crore grant to develop facilities for Narmada Parikrama pilgrims. GMB has been given Rs 33 core for Fisheries Harbour Project at Jafrabad port. Rs 102.10 crore will be allocated for 200 meter jetty work for coast guard ships at Okha by the Centre. Similarly Rs 36.15 crore will be allocated by the Centre for 100 meter jetty at Porbandar for Coast Guard. The Centre has also given grant of Rs 68 crore for Sagarmala projects.

DeshGujarat