Panaji: The Union ministry ports, shipping and waterways has virtually turned down Mormugao Port Authority’s request for Rs 1,300 crore to modernise the currently idle berth no. 9The Centre also told MPA to dredge the port’s approach channel to 19.8m depth to accommodate panmax size cargo vessels.High level officials said that minister for ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal told that the Centre won’t provide funds for the port’s upgrade.The MPA had submitted a proposal to the Centre in mid-Jan to redevelop berth no. 9, the only berth that has not been privatised. The proposal had also sought funding for capital dredging.“The ministry asked us to look at other options, and we said that we don’t have any other options. Even if we take a loan, we will find it difficult to service the loan,” said an MPA official.Sonowal was in Goa just over a week ago for an official visit. He reviewed the port’s functioning and finances. During the review meeting, Sonowal told MPA that it would be difficult to provide funding.“Due to the West Asia crisis, the central ministry did not get the expected funding under the Sagarmala mission. The minister asked the ministry officials and IWAI to identify other means of funding,” said an official, who was present for the review meeting.MPA officials said that “it has to be a grant from the ministry” if the two projects are to be taken up.“We can’t take the funds from the pension corpus. It would put the organisation in trouble. We don’t want to put the port in the same financial situation as in 2012,” said the port official.
