New Delhi, June 9 A Standing Parliamentary Committee on Commerce has asked the Government to shun “its policy of infinite slumber and aloofness” and address the problems of export infrastructure plaguing trade and industry in “a positive manner” to help boost the country’s exports.
In a report on ‘Export infrastructure at airports, ports, inland container depots, land customs stations and towns of export excellence (TEE)’, tabled in Parliament on Monday by its Chairman, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, the Committee said that “while on one hand the Government claimed upgrading various infrastructure facilities, on the other hand it seemed to have shut eyes in respect of customer satisfaction and promotion of exports.”
It has specifically urged the Government to work in a pro-active way along with the Central Ministries and State government departments concerned and draw up “a road map for infrastructural development for promotion of exports, covering all the important parts of the country that have export potential.”
Inland container depot at Moreh mooted
Suggesting to the Government to evolve a policy under which “infrastructure implies the minimum infrastructure comprising adequate space for warehouses, stakeholders’ office and for handling of cargoes (loading/unloading), easy and proper road connectivity, the Committee also listed out rail and air connectivity for smooth transportation of cargoes, latest technology such as electronic data interchange (EDI) for speedy communication between the authorities concerned and the customers for swift clearance of cargoes.
Besides appealing for proper infrastructure facilities of international standards at the airports to boost trade and exports, it called for reduction in dwell time in cargo clearance by simplifying customs procedures. Freight handling charges should be reduced to make them globally competitive.
While pleading for provision of basic facilities in all land customs stations (LCSs), it asked the authorities to study the feasibility of establishing an inland container depot at Moreh (Indo-Myanmar border) on the country’s international border.
It has urged the Union Government to have a closer interaction with the Ministry of Urban Development for provision of better infrastructural facilities in and around all agencies that are involved in various types of exports from the country.
Earmarking funds
The Committee also sought separate earmarking of funds to cater to the needs of the TEE so as to fill in critical gaps in infrastructure, such as connection of export hubs with National Highways/Waterways, taking care of the power requirements of TEE by setting up small power plants and setting up common warehouses for display of products of the entire clusters.
This separate outlay should be distributed among various TEEs, based on projects taken at hand by them. It also recommended setting up common effluent plant for seafood industries in places such as Alleppey with contribution from the various stakeholders, besides infrastructure for proper development and promotion of exports of cashew.
Source : Business Line