Coal news and updates

Cabinet clears land management norms for major ports

January 3: The government cleared the Policy Guidelines for Land Management for Major Ports, 2014, applicable to all major ports except for the land relating to the township areas of Kandla, Mumbai and Kolkata ports, an official release said.

The new policy guidelines aim at optimum use of land reserves available with major ports of the country by linking them with prevailing market rates.

The policy seeks to minimise the discretionary powers of port authorities in the process of allotment, by putting in place a mechanism of leasing and licensing of port land through a tender-cum-auction methodology, the release said.

"This (the policy) will bring more accountability and transparency into the process of land leasing and licensing and minimise the element of discretion and arbitrariness at port level" the release said.