MARGAO
The postponement of the inauguration of the Captain of Ports terminal scheduled on Monday has triggered a row, with Aam Aadmi Party MLA Venzy Viegas claiming that the Union Ports Minister has insisted on the passage of the Goa Maritime Board Bill.
In fact, Viegas on Monday handed over a copy of the Goa Maritime Board Bill to Minister for Ports Digambar Kamat with a plea to introduce and pass the Bill in the Goa Legislative Assembly to "revolutionise maritime operations" in the State.
Kamat told the media that the Department of Ports has already set in motion the process to frame rules as per the India Ports Act, which came into force in August 2025.
Addressing the media, Venzy made a pointed charge that the inauguration of the Captain of Ports terminal in Panaji has been postponed as per the instructions of the Union Ports Minister.
“Passage of the Bill to constitute the Goa Maritime Board is mandatory. I had moved the Bill in the last Assembly session after getting it vetted by legal experts, but the Bill could not be discussed after the session was scuttled by the election code of conduct,” he said.
Venzy has demanded an investigation into why certain officers handling the Department of Ports are "putting spokes in the wheel" of the introduction and passage of the Goa Maritime Board Bill.
“It appears that certain officers have some vested interests in the continuation of the Captain of Ports,” he said.
Saying that Goa would benefit immensely from the setting up of a Maritime Board, the MLA said it will not only help seafarers but also give a big boost to shipping operations along the west coast.
