Context:
- The Ministry of Shipping has sanctioned Rs 25 crore as grants-in-aid to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and another Rs 50 crore to the Government of Karnataka for the Karwar port for developing their infrastructure.
- The grants-in-aid was sanctioned under the Coastal Berth Scheme of its flagship Sagarmala project.
About Karwar Port:
- Karwar Port is situated between New Mangalore Port and Mormugao Port on the Southern side of the Kali River.
- It is acclaimed as one of the best natural all weather ports on the west coast and provides all-weather berthing facilities for ocean-going vessels.
- It is the only port owned and administered by the State Government.
Coastal Berth Scheme?
- The Coastal Berth Scheme aims to provide financial assistance to ports or states in order to create infrastructure for movement of cargo and passengers either by sea or national waterways.
- The admissible financial assistance from Central Government is 50% of the total cost of the project.
- The balance expenditure has to be incurred by the respective ports/concerned State Government from their own resources.
Sagarmala port project:
- The Sagarmala project seeks to develop a string of ports around India’s coast.
- The objective of this initiative is to promote “Port-led development” along India’s 7500 km long coastline.
- The Union Ministry of Shipping has been appointed as the nodal ministry for this initiative.
- The project aims to develop access to new development regions with intermodal solutions and promotion of the optimum modal split, enhanced connectivity with main economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal and road services.
- It also aims at simplifying procedures used at ports for cargo movement and promotes usage of electronic channels for information exchange leading to quick, efficient, hassle-free and seamless cargo movement.
- It also strives to ensure sustainable development of the population living in the Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ).
- The project, envisaging port-led development, targets to provide one crore employment, direct employment to 40 lakh persons and indirect employment to 60 lakh persons.
Source:Economic Times/PIB