Centre has been asked to relax Cabotage Law: CM

KOCHI: Raising concern over the Cabotage law blocking the smooth operations at the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said  the Centre has been asked to bring in necessary relaxations in the law. Stating that the Cabotage law was an impediment to the smooth functioning of the terminal, he told reporters here that the government had brought the issue before the Central Government and the Shipping Ministry.   International vessels could come to the  terminal only if necessary relaxations and amendments are made in the Cabotage law, he said after laying the foundation stone for Indian Maritime University, Cochin main campus. According to the existing law, foreign ships were not allowed to carry cargoes from the ICTT, which ultimately forced mother ships to leave ICTT.Union Minister K V Thomas said he had held discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Minister of Shipping G K Vasan regarding the Cabotage law. “They have assured that relaxations would be made in the existing law at the earliest,” he said.Chandy said the government was ready to provide land for setting up an IIT and another Maritime University in the state. “Even though land is scarce in the state, the government is ready to provide 60 acres of land for setting up the Maritime University,” he said.Chandy also said the government was ready to provide 500 acres of land if it gets the approval for an IIT. Kerala Ports Minister K Babu said the proposed Maritime Board to be introduced in the state was expected to be given approval in the next Cabinet. The Bill for setting up the Maritime Board would be presented in the next Assembly session, he said.