Gadkari rules out DCIL privatisation

Visakhapatnam: Union Minister of Shipping Nitin Gadkari made it clear that the Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL) will not be privitised. Three major ports, including Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Paradeep Port Trust and New Mangalore Port Trust, are competing to take over the DCIL and already submitted their proposals to the ministry. The government also decided not to privatise the DCIL, Gadkari said.

It may be recalled that the Central government had announced that it is withdrawing shares from the DCIL. However, the work force in the region, the state government, all the political parties warned the government not to privitise the DCIL. All the political parties in the state demanded that the government continue the DCIL as a government establishment as the company is having an international identity in the dredging activities. 

One of the employees of the company committed suicide demanding the Centre not to privatise the company. While observing the people anger on the move, the Central government took 'U' turn on its decision. 

"Yes. The three major ports expressing their interests to take over the DCIL and submitted proposals in this regard. The ministry is also positively responded and welcomed proposals. The ministry is not selling the DCIL or not withdrawing the shares.

The proposals of the three major ports will be discussed in the Cabinet and once the cabinet takes a decision, the DCIL will be handed over to one of the three major ports (VPT, PPT and NMPT)," Nitin Gadkari said. 

SPECIAL POWERS TO CHAIRMAN of VPT:
Accepting the competition from the private ports, the minister, while responding to scribes, said that the private ports are announcing special sops and trade discounts on the spot to promote the trade. However, the Chairman of Major Ports are not having such powers.

The ministry has given powers to Chairman, Visakhapatnam Port Trust to announce discounts and special offers to promote the trade in VPT, as there is a stiff competition from  Gangavaram Port Limited, Nitin Gadkari said.