BS reported that as only one of the five contract signed by the Orissa government for development of minor ports was given through tendering, the move has raised several eyebrows, even from within the shipping ministry, questioning the transparency in the procedure of allotment of these projects.

Mr ML Meena chairman of Kolkata Port Trust said “State governments are not following the tender process. It is a scam. You cannot give away national waters to private persons and make them zamindars.”

The Orissa government had signed MoUs for Dhamra, Kirtania, Astaranga and Chooramani ports, but for Gopalpur Port Ltd, which is being developed by Cuttack based Orissa Stevedores Ltd and Sara International.

However, it is not the only one to do so. States like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, too, have adopted similar methods for setting up non major ports on their coastline.

(Sourced from BS)