The Gazette of India
EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1948
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
RESOLUTION
New Delhi, the 7th September, 1948
No. 19-P(118)/48.—In their Resolution, Ministry of Transport No 19-F(58)/ 47, dated the 17th February, 1048, as amended by their Resolution of the same No. dated the 12th April. 1948, the Government of India constituted an export committee known as the West Coast Major Port Development Committee to carry out the following two investigations: —
1. (a) Whether a deep sea port on the stretch of coast covering Kathiawar and Cutch for the accommodation of ships of large size and tonnage at all seasons of the year is required;
(b) if so, where it should be sited, having regard to construction and maintenance costs, allied transport developments, possibilities of developing existing ports and the needs of the entire area to be served.
II. fa) Whether a deep sun. port between Mormugao and Cochin for the accommodation of ships of large size and tonnage at all seasons of the year is required;
(b) if so, where it should be sited, having regard to economy of construct tion and maintenance of the port and allied transport development required and having regard to the needs of the entire area; also what measures are necessary for establishing it;
(c) what improvements are necessary in communications to the existing;
ports; also what other measures should be taken for the develop- ment or provision of additional facilities in these ports as may be found necessary or desirable.
The members of the Committee are as follows: —
Mr. Kasturbhai Lalbhai,—Chairman.
The General Manager, B.B.& C.I. Railway, Bombay, for the former investigation, and the Chief Commercial Manager, M.& S M. Railway, Madras, for the letter,
Mr. 8, N. Haji, Scindia, Steam Navigation Co. Limited, Bombay.
Mr. K, Mitter, Docks Manager, Calcutta Port Commissioners, Calcutta.
Mr. J. B. Murray, Chief Engineer, Calcutta Port Commissioners. Calcutta.
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTHAOBDINAHY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1948 1446 Commander D. Shankar, Director ui Naval Engineering, Naval Head- • quarters (I).Mr. V. V. Bhide, Secretary fr6 the (Teneval Manager, B.B.& O.I. Railway, Bombay—Secretary.
The investigation into the possibilities of siting a major,port on the coast oovered by Kathiawar and Cutch was taken up first. The Committee made a careful study of all relevant data, visited all existing ports and likely sites and held discussions with the various interests concerned and as a result submitted a unanimous report which is now pub'ished. The Government of India have carefully considered ilia rt'comiueuddtiouB mado in the report and the steps sug- gested to implement them, and wish to make the following observations. The references below aro to the recommendations of the Committee o& summarised in paragraph 25 of the report: —
(1) The Government of India egroe that the need for a major port is immediate and imperative.
(2) The Committee have recommended that the inajoj1 purt should be sited at Kandlft. The advantages and disadvantages oi this site as woll as those of other likely sites have been examined, in detail, and on an overall appreciation of all relevant factors, the Government of India, are satisfied that Kandlft is tha most suitable port lor development having regard to the needs of the entire area to be served. It was rea'ised from the beginning that water supply was an important factor lwid in the light of further investigations, the Government of India feel that it would be safe to assume that there are resources for an adequate water supply both to the port and port town. The Government of India have accordingly come to the conclusion that a decision should be made in favour of Kandla as the site of the future major port, and that preliminary measures should be put in hand immediately to implement this decision. These measures include, tn addition to the freezing of lpnd values which has already been done, tha appointment of a resident harbour engineer, the development of both broad and metre gauge railway connections and a reference to "n ad hoo committee of engineers for advice on all technical points including such further steps as may be necessary to ensure a sufficient water supply.
(3) The Government of India agree with the recommendation that all the existing ports of Kathiawar should be pieced under one Port Commission whiob should, in their opiuion, also include Okha and Vorawnl, and hope that the State Governments concerned would take early steps to this end.
(4) and (5). In these recommendations, the Committee have expressed the opinion that a concentrated effort must be made to get better dredging results at Bhavnagar and after satisfactory results are obtained^ one extra berth should be constructed so that Bhavnagar can to some extent serve ^he area marked as zone 'B' in Appendix 'O-' io the report. The Government of India commend thi* recommendation to the Saurashtra Government for necessary action.
The Government of India desire to express their appreciation of the services rendered by the Chairman and members of the West Coast Major Port Develop- ment Committee for their concise and valuable report which has been of great assistance to the Government of India in assessing the position and reaching a prompt decision.
9. CHAKBAVABTT,