NEW DELHI, Aug 13: While the government is worried about congestion and capacity constraints at the major ports, the Ministry of Surface Transport (MoST)'s move to revive Central loan assistance to maritime states for development of minor ports has come unstuck due to shortage of funds.

The ministry had earmarked an outlay of Rs 200 crore for the development of port-related infrastructure to encourage private investments in the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1997-2000) period but the Planning Commission has expressed inability to meet its fund requirements for minor ports.

Instead, it has allocated only Rs 2 crore for 1997-98, which will be used to fund feasibility studies for development of minor projects.

MoST sources said the Planning Commission's inability to provide funds for revival of the loan assistance scheme -- which was discontinued in 1979-80 was a major setback to the development plans for minor ports.

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