2 days ago
Parliament passes Coastal Shipping Bill aiming to boost maritime trade on another day of Opposition protest
Amid the din of protests by Opposition party MPs, Rajya Sabha Thursday passed the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, through a voice vote, creating a legal framework for vessels trading in coastal waters and repealing provisions of the older Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after the passage of the Bill, which was introuduced in Lok Sabha on December 2, 2024 and passed on April 3.
The entire discussion and voting on the legislation happened amid protests and sloganeering by Opposition MPs, who sought a discussion on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Union Minister for Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal initiated discussion on the Bill, however, opposition MPs immediately stood up in protest, exhorting the chair to discuss the SIR instead.
Soon after Darshana Singh of the BJP began speaking, the chair allowed Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak. He said, 'Today, the country is passing through a dangerous period… We have to work together, and for that, you should allow this discussion (on SIR). (if that happens), we will participate in all other discussions.'
Apart from Darshana Singh, six other MPs spoke, all in support of the Bill, either from the BJP or its allies. Only one Opposition member, Fouzia Khan of the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), was asked to speak on the discussion; however, she was not present.
Concluding the Bill's hurried discussion, Sonowal said it is a significant reform initiative, which will unlock the full potential of India's 11,098-km-long coastline and take a share of its cargo traffic to 230 million tonnes by 2030.
'This (Bill) is designed to make coastal trade easier…it is a holistic, forward-looking framework in line with global practices and a part of the series of reforms in the maritime sector,' said Sonowal.
The Bill contains six chapters and 41 clauses, he said, mainly about licensing and regulation of coastal trade and also creation of a national database for coastal shipping.
The Bill was passed even as opposition MPs stood close to the well, holding placards against SIR. CPI(M) MP John Brittas, when asked to move amendments to the Bill, instead said that he would move them if there was a discussion on SIR.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on July 21, has not seen much legislative business as Opposition leaders have been demanding a discussion on the issue of SIR in both Houses.
