Team Herald
PANJIM: Minister for Ports Michael Lobo while addressing the fifth conference on logistics organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry of Goa Chapter announced that the Goa Government is seriously contemplating to relax barge tax as barge owners have lost business due to closure of mining. Barge tax will not be exempted, but it would be lowered so that barge owners can afford to pay.
The proposal to reduce this tax is now under consideration and once the chief minister gives his nod it would be placed before the Cabinet. It is likely that it would be done within a month. As of now the tax is Re 1 per tonne and the barge owners have not paid this tax for the last four years as there was hardly any business after mining closure.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho stated that mining activities would restart in Goa in a month’s time by end December. “Goa Government has found a roadmap by which mining and mining-related activities will restart soon,” he stated.
Shrinivas V Dempo, Past Chairman, CII WR & CMD, Dempo Shipbuilding & Engg Pvt Ltd in his address mentioned that the state of Goa, due to its strategic location advantage and size in terms of population and geography has a huge requirement of transport and logistics services. He stated that the state is also well connected with the rest of country through road, railways, a natural port and an airport. After one-nation-one-tax concept of GST when there is no entry tax, the geographical location should be put to leveraged for sending goods to any part of country within 24 hours. Goa should also be envisaged as a transit point for manufacturing sector especially fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) moving from the point of manufacturing for further distribution in other states.
In her address Dr Amita Prasad, IAS, Chairperson, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), stated that Inland Waterways Authority of India, (IWAI) is committed to the development of the state’s inland waterways. She also mentioned that there is tremendous potential for investors for the development and exploring opportunities for inland coastal movement of cargo between India and Bangladesh. She also stated that the rationalization of taxes is the need of the hour and the government is working on reviewing the tax structures.
Shashi Bhushan Shukla, Member (Traffic), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) stated that the integration of Coastal and Inland Waterways is key to reduce logistic cost of Exim as a domestic cargo and western region has huge potential in this area. He was of the opinion that Goa must contribute a lot more with much needed policy intervention and Support to barge owners. Approximately 90 per cent of IWT cargo (63MMTPA) on NWs is currently contributed by Western region with Goa having 3.76 MMTPA.
Dilip Kumar Gupta, Managing Director & Director Projects, Sagarmala Development Company Ltd explained about the role of Sagarmala and the initiative of the Blue economy launched in 2015 for the development of navigable rivers. He also stated that his company was formed mainly to create equity and develop the last mile connectivity for ports through rail and road networks.
