Shri Bhupesh Gupta] Connected with It MR
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151 Discussion on the [RAJYASABHA] Ministry of Shipping 152 working of and Transport [Shri Bhupesh Gupta] connected with it MR. DtFUlY CHAIRMAN : Yes yes. because it is a very serious matter. Shri Moni Now sit down. Yes, Mr. Kiist.an Kant. Sanyal has been removed as a result of pressure. He wanted to give the contract to DISCUSSION ON THE WORKING OF Engineers (India) Limited. Certain vested THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING interests were in favour of helping a foreign AND TRANSPORT firm. MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN : That will SHRI KRISHAN KANT (Haryana) : I do. Yes, Mr. Krishan Kant. beg to raise a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Shipping and Transport. It is SHRI KRISHAN KANT (Haryana) : Sir, good, at least in 25 years for the fhst time I beg to raise a discussion... we are having a discussion on this Ministry. We have raised the discussion through (Interruptions) questions and may be through other motions SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA : Not at all. but not as a Ministry. You will say what you have to say. I wrote Indian ships have ruled the waves for to him. Sir. I showed it to you. thirty centuries. It was through Indian ships MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN : You have that Buddhism spread to South East Asia made your point now. and to Japan. The dominant position of SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA : I am Indian ships continued till the British c^me su.pri.s2d that I do not even get a reply to the on the scene. Even long after that the letter. At least I should have got a reply to Britishers used Indian ships. In 1927 the what I have brought to the notice of the East India Company used Ind-an ships in Government. Is it because the discussion was the battle of Navery. coming up, the Minister did not reply ? The We became slaves of British and so oar presumption is that the reply will come after shipping perished. As Mahatma Gandhi the discussion is over but this is unfair. No once remarked, "Indian shipping had to assistance can be given till the matter is perish so that British shipping may flourish." settled. I demand that the Central Govern- The British laws were so framed as to make ment should have an enquiry into the teims our overseas trade impossible. Some efforts of the Hooghly River Project Commission... were made during the British regime to MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN : You have build Indian shipping. One of the notable already made your point. attempts was made by Shri Chidambaram Pillai who was jailed because of his patriotic SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA : Sir, I demand activities. The lirst Indian ship built by M/s that nothing should be done till the matter Scindia Steamship Co. came up in 1919, s.s. has been sorted out to the satisfaction of the Loyalty. Parliament. He can even tell me new. Why At the dawn of independence we had only are you keeping silent? 92 ships with 1.92 lakh GRT. From 1947- 1957 no help was given worth the name for THE MINISTER OF SHIPPING AND shipping industry. Practically nothing wa.s TRANSPORT (SHRI RAJ BAHADUR) : In done and no attention was paid towards the course of the debate 1 will certainly deal shipping industry. with it. But I can tell you that I have not been guilty of not replying. I have sent the After 1957 came the Met chant Shipping reply. It might not have been received by Board and the shipping development fund you. There might have been some delay but was started. There is no doubt we lave I have sent the reply. m&de progress and creditable woik has been made by the Shipping Corporation of SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA : Sir, this is India—of which all protagonists of public very unfortunate. When you say that you sector will feel proud. Here I would like to have sent the reply, will you kindly instruct congratulate the Minister and the Chairman your officers to pass on a copy to me during of the Slipping Corporation, jbe course of the debate? 153 Discussion on the [14 MAY 1973] Ministry of Shipping 154 working of and Transport Shri Srivastava, for the good work that they could earn and pay. New the market las have done to bring the Indian shipping on its become very stringent. Frcm that argie I progress. But in spite of that where do we feel that we have missed the bus may be by stand in regard to the Indian shipping? The bungling because of hairsplitting by the total tonnage of Indian ship constitutes about Government in the various Departments. one per cent of the World shipping tonnage Now there is scramble for ships ail over the and we rank 16th in the comity of nations. wcrld and conditions have stiffened. Our seaborne trade is about 2 per cent of the After the Suez closure many countries v.oild tir.de. have gone for bigger ships. Our capacity of What fraction of Indian overseas trade is shipyards is not sufficient to achieve the carried by Indian botlcms? Just 20 pet-cent. target. The Visakhapatnam Shipyard can The long-term target is to cany at least 50 build hardly 4 to 5 ships per year. Out of the per cent of our cargo in our own ships. With total bulk trade we carry only 10 per cent in the present pace of development of shipping; our ships and we pay about Rs. 160 to Rs. it seems difficult to achieve this target. 170 crores by way of payment every year in foreign exchange. If some of it had been I would like to know from the hon. utilised for buying ships for ourselves we Minister as to what plan they have got for could have ultimately saved much. I feel this purpose. Somehow the benefits of there has been an unimaginative approach developing our own shipping seems to have on the part of the Government and because not been seriously realised in spite of the fact of that it has remained a neglected sector. that the development of our own shipping One factor which has probably hindered tonnage would go a long way in fa) saving our growth is I he attitude of the big powers foreign exchange, (b) nroviding stimulus to and other shipping countries which have our foreign trade, and (c) it will be been trying to bamboozle the developing instrumental in reducing the economic cost countries not to go in for ships. The World of transporting our cargo. Sir, in the Fourth Bank also has not been helpful. It is very Plan the target was fixed at 4 -5 million G. R. much clear frcm the fact that it was after T. So far we have got about 2-5 million G. R. continuous efforts for six to seven years the T. So there is a gap of 1 -5 million G. R. T. World Bank gave a 83 million dollar credit which is not likely to be fulfilled. According for the purchase of four tankers and two to the present indication we may achieve coastal carriers. Our experience earlier has between 3 to 3 -5 million G. R. T. In the also been very unfortunate when we wanted Fifth Plan the Government has been talking to expand the Calcutta port and Haldia port. of a target of 10 million G. R. T. This is not a The Wor!d Bank lingered on and ultimately small task. This is a big challenge. During refused to help. The World Bank dominated the last 25 years the number of ships has by USA and other powers wanted American risen from 94 to 256. To achieve the target of engineers and equipment to be purchased 10 million G. R. T. it would probably mean along with the credit which India did not about 700 more ships of various sizes. How agree. How the World Bank has been do the Government propose to do it? discouraging developing countries from building up their tonnage is very much clear Our past experience has been rather from a rep rt which has been published. I disappointing. When we do not have the quote : capacity to build our own ships to meet the current and prospective needs of the country "For example, the World Bank in its sector the only alternative is to go in for purchasing working paper on transportation has put ships. A few years ago it was a buyers' market forward the following counter arguments for but now it has become a sellers' market. At the developing countries not going in for that time all that was required was a increased shipping facilities. First, fuel costs, downright payment of 20 per cent of the cost ship capital costs, crew expenditures, repair while the rest of 80 per cent we and foreign 1 port charges are often foreign exchange 1 costs which cut significantly into expected 155 Discussion on the [ RAJYA SABHA ] Ministry of Shipping 156 working of and Transport [Shri Krishan Kant] foreign exchange shipbuilding industry to develop standardi- savings or earnings. Second, the sation in regard to engines, propelling profitability of national flag shipping from machines and various marine stores. Another an economic viewpoint often depends factor which I would like the Government to fundamentally upon rates being charged in go into is the cost of Indian ships. [ the market; these can fluctuate widely from understand the cost in India is nearly double. one party to the next, making investment Has something been done for finding out decisions based on them especially ways and means to reduce the cost of uncertain.