The Year 2020-21 has ended. The year 2020-21 is historical event. The year will be remembered for COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown enforcement. The first quarter of the year was very difficult. Things started moving gradually quarter-to-quarter and most of the economic activities are back on track. Everything has gone from physical to digital during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It forced humanity to communicate through the virtual world. Recovery from COVID lows aided by proactive Government steps is gathering pace.
1.2. It is overwhelming that we have been able to deliver working from home during lockdown. We were able to attend to nearly 200 grievances of EXIM Community and guide the importers for redressal of their grievances through an online web-enabled system of CPGRAMS Portal. Office strictly implemented the safety guidelines issued by the Government. I express my appreciation to all the members of TAMP family for supporting the functioning of TAMP during the unprecedented COVID pandemic.
2.1. As a part of consultative process in regulating tariff, TAMP organized 35 virtual joint hearings during the year 2020-21 jointly with the Ports, Port users, BOT operators and prospective lessees of port lands as well as for other tariff cases. Such joint hearings not only enabled the Ports/ BOT operators to fine tune their tariff proposals but also acted as an effective platform for users to put-forth their views/ grievances.
2.2. COVID has impacted everyone including TAMP. The Board of TAMP could meet only 5 times in the year 2020-21 and decide 44 tariff cases of various ports/ BOT operators including estate related charges. TAMP has passed 1051 Tariff orders since its inception from April 1997.
3. The audit of the accounts of the Authority for the year 2019-20 was undertaken by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. As per the Audit Report released by the C&AG there are no audit paras on the accounts of the Authority for the year 2019-20. The audited Accounts of the Authority along with Audit Report for the year 2019-20 has been placed on the Table of Lok Sabha on 11 February 2021 and Rajya Sabha on 08 February 2021.
4. TAMP has observed Swachhata Pakhwada-2020 from 16.09.2020 to 30.09.2020. Since “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” is an all time activity, the directives for cleanliness are continuously observed throughout the year.
5. TAMP is continuously recognized for its Quality Management System under ISO 9001:2015.
6.1. The Parliament has passed the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020. The Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India has notified the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 in the Gazette of India on 18 February 2021. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
6.2. After the commencement of the Act, the Major Port Authority or a Committee of the Port Authority may frame Scale of Rates in consonance with norms as may be prescribed for implementation with prospective effect. In case of PPP Projects after the commencement of the Act, concessionaire shall fix the tariff based on market conditions and on such other conditions as may be notified.
6.3. Section 54 of the Act provides for constitution of an Adjudicatory Board with effect from such date as may be specified in the Act. The Adjudicatory Board shall perform the following functions, other than tariff setting, namely:-
(a). The functions envisaged to be carried out by the Tariff Authority for Major Ports arising from the Tariff Guidelines of 2005, 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2019 and tariffs orders issued by the said Authority;
(b). to receive and adjudicate reference on any dispute or differences or claims relating to rights and obligations of Major Ports and Public Private Partnership concessionaires or captive users for dedicated berth within the framework of their concession agreements and to pass orders after considering and hearing all the parties involved in the dispute;
(c). to appraise, review the stressed Public Private Partnership projects as referred by the Central Government or the Board, and to suggest measures to revive such projects;
(d). to look into the complaints received from port users against the services and terms of service rendered by the Major Ports or the private operators operating in the Major Ports and to pass necessary orders after hearing the parties concerned; and
(e). to look into any other matter relating to the operations of the Major Port, as may be referred to it by the Central Government or the Board, and to pass orders or give suggestions, as the case may be.
6.4. Every employee serving under TAMP shall become an employee of the Adjudicatory Board. We have to gear up ourselves to ensure smooth transition from TAMP to the Adjudicatory Board.
7. The accompaniments made so far would not have been possible without the active co-operation of all the stakeholders, more importantly our small, but ‘dedicated team’ of staff members. I am confident that the tasks still we need to accomplish will be accomplished with the active co-operation of all stakeholders.
8. I welcome comments and suggestions of stakeholders on our functioning which will provide valuable feedback to us to effect necessary improvements within the statutory mandate and guiding framework given to us.
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