MUMBAI, July 10: The apex committee set up to prepare a strategy for reviving the shipbuilding industry has sought a three month extension for submitting its report to the ministry of surface transport (MoST). The committee expects to submit its report by September 1998.According to the director general of shipping MP Pinto the committee had five meetings within a month and is in the process of drafting the report.
The committee, consisting of 12 members, is headed by Pinto and will have representatives from the ministry of defence, ministry of petroleum and natural gas, National Shipowners Association, Shipyards Association of India, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, National Ship Design & Research Centre, deputy director general of shipping and Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA).
The committee members recently met representatives from Cochin Shipyard, Hindustan Shipyard, Mazagon Docks and other prominent private shipbuilding yards, Pinto said. "The committee will initially prepare a preliminaryreport which will be distributed among the members to solicit their views," INSA president BL Mehta said. According to him, a final report will be prepared after incorporating the suggestions of members and the shipping industry.
The committee, which was set up in December 1997, was to have given its report within three months. However, it could meet only after three months of its constitution. The terms of reference of the committee included assessing the scope and need for capacity augmentation of Indian shipyards.
It was also asked to evaluate the problems of shipyards both in public and private sector and suggest measures for achieving full capacity utilisation. The apex committee was also asked by MoST to ensure co-ordination betweeen the shipowners, shipyards, Indian Navy, coast guard and the ports so that their needs are met by the Indian yard at competitive costs.
It was also given the task of studying the feasibility of tapping concessional financing for shipyard modernisation, technicalupgradation and working capital. The committee was to suggest ways and means to make the shipbuilding industry export-oriented.
It will give its suggestions to promote possible tie-ups either through joint ventures or collaborations with reputed foreign yards for technological upgradation of shipyards.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
