The Major Port Authorities Act 2021
The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, which will come into force from November 3, is more concise than the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, as various overlapping and obsolete provisions have been done away with.
It has proposed to simplify the composition of the Port Authority Board. It will consist of 11 to 13 members out of the current 17 to 19 members representing various stakeholders.
The role of the Major Port Tariff Authority has been redefined.
The Port Authority has now been empowered to fix the tariff. This will be a reference tariff for the purpose of bidding for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
PPP operators will be free to fix tariffs based on market conditions.
It is proposed to set up an Adjudicating Board for the following:
- Completion of residual works of erstwhile TAMP for 9 Major Ports.
- Resolving disputes between the ports and the PPP concessionaires.
- The Port Authority Board has been entrusted with full powers to fix tariffs except in case of contract, planning and development, national interest and security and emergency arising out of inaction and defect.
- The erstwhile Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 required prior approval of the Central Government in 22
Source – The Hindu
