Bhubaneswar: The first meeting of the Odisha Maritime Board, chaired by Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena was held here on Tuesday. The board was established last year for the functioning, control and management of minor ports in the state.
The Chief Secretary has advised to fill the posts of senior officers immediately, in accordance with rules of the Board. He emphasized on speeding up administrative work by appointing competent officers in various services directly or through deputation.
Jena suggested that the Board should be able to function within its own resources, port development, investment and promotion of industries dependent on maritime transport. Apart from this, competitive entries will be invited from the public for the design of the Board’s logo and tagline.
It was decided in the meeting to reward the logos considered worthy.
Commerce and Transport Department Secretary Usha Padhi highlighted the purpose of forming the Board in the meeting. Odisha is the fifth state in the country to set up this board as suggested by the central government to regulate inter-state freight, import and export and trade business through Odisha’s beaches and small ports.
Transportation of goods by waterways can significantly reduce interstate congestion on land. In the meeting, PL Harnath, Chairman Paradip Port Authority, Captain (Indian Navy) Dibesh Kumar Swain, senior officials, executives of Black Bricks, the project implementing organization of Odisha Maritime Board were present.
