The government today said Korean steel giant Posco's Indian arm can set up a captive port near its plant in Odisha without any permission from the Centre.
According to the Indian Ports Act, 1908, development of any other port (private, captive or non-major), except major port, vests with the state government, Shipping Minister G K Vasan said in a reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Answering a question on whether Posco-India has been granted permission to set up a captive port within 10 km of the Paradip Port (major port), he said, "The captive port (of Posco India) is a non-major port under the jurisdiction of the government of Odisha.
No permission is required from the central government for setting up of a non-major, private port, except necessary statutory clearances from the nodal agencies, he said.
Vasan added, "There will be no diversion of cargo from Paradip to the proposed Posco-India's port."
Paradip Port will have adverse consequences only when proposed captive port of Posco India Ltd starts handling cargo for other users in addition to their own cargo, he said.
Posco-India proposes to set up a 12 mtpa (million tonnes per annum) greenfield steel mill near the port town at an investment of Rs 52,000 crore.
Meanwhile, Posco-India and Paradip Port Trust (PPT) authorities have constituted a six-member joint committee to study possibility of the steel major using the existing port facility at Paradip.
The team is expected to undertake survey work from April 2 and submit its report within seven days from completion of the study on April 14.
Source: PTI